Added on Thursday, July 31, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City July 31, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that speckled trout, red drum, and some flounder are feeding in the marshes of the Haystacks, North River, and the Middle Marsh.

Live shrimp beneath floats and Gulp baits will get their attention, and anglers can also hook the trout and reds on topwaters and X-Raps early and late in the day.

The trout and red action has also been good in Core Creek and Back Creek.

Flounder fishing has been excellent in the deep water near the port wall and under the bridges. Anglers are also hooking up with the flatties behind Shackleford and at AR-315 and 320. Live finger mullet, mud minnows, and tiger minnows fished on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flatfish.

Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks and under the Atlantic Beach Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on live baits, green grubs, and Tsunami Glass Minnows.

Sheepshead are feeding around the bridges, the port wall, and the railroad tracks, and anglers are using fiddler crabs and sea urchins.

Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches again, and anglers trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees are hooking up with them. Anglers casting from the piers are scoring with Gotcha plugs.

Surf fishermen are hooking spot, whiting, and other bottomfish on cut shrimp.

Offshore, the dolphin bite has slowed down, but anglers are still finding some tournament class kings around the Big 10/Little 10 and similar structure on live baits. The king bite has also been good at spots on the east side of the shoals like the Atlas Tanker.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with some gag grouper and triggerfish around the 1700 Rock on cigar minnows. The bottom bite has also been good around the 210 and 240 Rocks, where anglers are catching gags and some big sea bass.

 

Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has improved over the last few days, although the fish are in isolated packs following schools of bait. Anglers trolling Clarkspoons are hooking up with spanish (up to 3 lbs.). Fishing live baits like small pogies has been producing action with larger fish (up to 6 lbs.).

Inshore, the large sheepshead bite has been the best it’s been in years, and anglers are landing a lot of fish in the 5-10 lb. class around the port wall, bridges, and other hard structure. Sea urchins and fiddler crabs are producing most of the sheepshead bites.

The best flounder bite has moved into the rivers, where the fish are feeding on huge numbers of shrimp and baitfish. Carolina-rigged live baits have been producing most of the flounder action, and anglers weighed in several fish in the 5-6 lb. range last week.

Surf anglers have been weighing in some solid pompano lately (many to 2 lbs.). Fresh shrimp are producing the most action with the pomps.

Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been good at spots on the east side of the shoals like the 1700 Rock, the Atlas Tanker, the D Wreck, and East Rock. Live baits are producing the most and largest fish.

Sailfish are feeding well around the 14 Buoy, Big 10/Little 10, and other similar areas. Live baits or rigged ballyhoo should tempt the sails to strike.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that king and spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent within a few miles of the beaches lately. Boats trolling spoons are hooking up with both species. There are plenty of undersized kings in the mix, and they’re easily confused with spanish, so anglers should be sure of what species they have before tossing a fish in the box.

Offshore, the sailfish bite has been solid at spots in 10-15 fathoms lately, with especially good action between the 10 Fathom Rock and the 14 Buoy lately. Rigged ballyhoo will get attention from the sails.

Wahoo and dolphin fishing has been picking up a little lately, with the bite spread out up and down the break. Pink/white and blue/white skirts over ballyhoo are drawing the most bites.

 

Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching a little bit of everything, but most fish have been on the small side this week.

The water’s a little dirty, but once it clears, anglers should see some better action with spanish mackerel, bluefish, and whiting.