Morehead City May 24, 2007
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that red drum are really becoming active in the marshes and rivers. Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, and popping cork rigs will get plenty of interest from the drum, as will bottom rigs baited with mud minnows or finger mullet.
Some nice speckled trout are coming from the backwaters. Most are hitting live mud minnows, but Gulp baits will put them in the boat as well.
Gray trout are still biting, with bigger fish coming from the bridges and AR315. Stingsilvers, Gulp baits, and Yo-Zuri soft jigs have all been producing solid catches of the grays.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, with a few stationed in the inlets. Clark spoons and squid rigs behind birds will get plenty of attention from the spanish.
A few snake kings are feeding with the spanish, but king mackerel action has been better a bit farther from shore at spots such as Jerry’s Reef and the Northwest Places. Cigar minnows and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers are top producers on the kings.
Cobia are feeding in the Hook of Cape Lookout. A few have been sighted on channel markers, but chances are best in the Hook. A pogie or crab fished on the bottom will draw cobia strikes, but anglers should keep a bucktail rigged and ready in case one pops up near the boat.
Boats are finding lots of dolphin at the Big Rock, along with some wahoo and yellowfin tuna. Billfish action is heating up, and boats have released several sailfish and marlin recently. Skirted ballyhoo remain the hottest baits out in the blue water.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the Big Rock is holding plenty of dolphin, as well as some sailfish. A few wahoo and tuna are in the mix as well. Ballyhoo rigged under lighter colored Bluewater Candy and Carolina Witch skirts are producing the best results on the Gulf Stream fish.
Some kings are also coming from the Big Rock.
Grouper fishing has been excellent, and bottom fishermen are scoring with lots of big gags and reds. The action has been best 40+ miles from the beach, and the best bait for bigger fish lately has been a butterflied boston mackerel.
Nearshore bottom fishing has been hit or miss, with some boats finding good numbers of healthy 2-3 lb. gray trout, and others finding nothing. AR315 is the best place to start looking for the gray trout.
Dirty water has slowed down the spanish mackerel bite, but a few are still coming from the areas around Bogue Inlet and the Cape.
Inshore, bluefish from snappers up to around 8 lbs. are eating anything and everything. The blues are feeding in the surf and in the backwaters.
Anglers are finding some red drum in the marshes, and mud minnows and Gulp baits are drawing the drum strikes.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that blue water fishing is getting even better. Dolphin are the main catch right now, and nearly all are gaffers. The Big Rock has had a good dolphin bite lately, but the fish are feeding practically everywhere in the blue water.
Mixed with the dolphin are yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Some of the tuna are bruisers (up to 75 lbs.). The tuna and wahoo are feeding all over, but the hottest action has come in 40-100 fathoms of water.
Some boats are beginning to see billfish, and it looks like it is shaping up to be another hot summer for marlin fishing. Both blue and white marlin have been sighted over the past week, and they’re feeding all over the place, just like the tuna, wahoo, and dolphin. The best trolling spread is comprised of ballyhoo under blue/white, purple/black, and red/black skirts.
Ken, of Swell Rider Charters, reports excellent bottom fishing, with lots of triggerfish, beeliners, grunts, and large sea bass filling up the coolers.
King and spanish mackerel are making a good showing, and they are here to stay for the summer.
WR2 is holding some dolphin, and there will be more and more dolphin there as May gives way to June.
Bud, of See Ya Charters, reports that bonito are still around, and trolling between the Lighthouse and R18 has been producing double and triple hookups. There are also some cobia around, and a lure such as a Braid Slammer will entice cobia strikes.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that Gotcha plugs are producing good catches of spanish mackerel. Chopper blues are also hitting the Gotchas, and one chopper was even caught on a flounder rig last week.
Bottom fishermen are catching spot and whiting on shrimp.
The water temperature is 69 degrees at the pier.
