Swansboro July 5, 2007
Jeff, of FishN’4Life Charters, reports that red drum are still feeding in the marshes and on shallow grass flats. The drum are cruising flooded grass at higher tides hunting for shrimp, crabs, mullet, and other finfish.
Topwater baits have been leading anglers to explosive surface strikes when the drum are feeding shallow. Weightless Gulp jerkbaits and spinnerbaits will draw strikes when the drum are reluctant to hit topwaters. At lower tides, look for the drum to be feeding at rock walls and beneath docks.
The backwaters are holding plenty of 1-5 lb. sheepshead. Larger fish are roaming the grass flats looking for meals, while the smaller sheepshead are holding tight to ICW dock and bridge pilings. Fiddler crabs and sand fleas are the sheepshead’s favorite baits.
Ladyfish have inundated the Bogue Sound and White Oak River and are also feeding around the inlets. Target the ladies around lighted bridges and docks at night as they feed on schools of mullet.
Speckled trout (from 1-3 lbs.) are feeding on shrimp coming out of the rivers and sounds. They’ll be active around ICW structure and bridges at lower tides, and in the creeks at higher tides. Fish live shrimp or Gulp baits on light jigheads to hook up with the trout.
Summer flounder fishing is improving in the inlets, with most fish running 1-3 lbs. Better flounder fishing has been taking place at the nearshore reefs and live bottoms 0-5 miles offshore. Carolina rigged live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will both put flounder in the boat when fished over the nearshore structure. Most of the nearshore fish are in the 2-5 lb. range.
The king, spanish, and dolphin bite has been excellent nearshore. Dolphin running 5-15 lbs. are feeding within a mile of shore (along with both kings and spanish). Live baits and dead cigar minnows have been getting bites from all three species.
Sea bass fishing is also hot at the nearshore structure, but most fish within 5 miles of shore are beneath the new 12” minimum size limit.
Dale, of the Reel Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are catching red drum on spinnerbaits, Gulp Jerk Shads, and topwater lures. The drum are feeding most actively in the marshes and creeks around oyster beds and grass edges.
Sheepshead are holding around bridge and pier pilings in the Swansboro and Emerald Isle areas. Some sheepshead are also coming from the oyster rocks in the marshes. Fiddler crabs are the prime sheepshead baits in both locations.
Flounder fishing has been only fair, both inshore and nearshore. Anglers are landing a few flatfish on live baits and bucktails.
Dolphin, kings, and big spanish mackerel (27-30”) are cruising the beaches and nearshore waters looking for a meal. Live pogies and dead cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs are fooling all three species.
Sailfish are also feeding around the nearshore AR’s and rocks. The Keypost has been holding a good number of feeding sails, and they’re taking an interest in live cigar minnows, live pogies, and dead cigars.
Grouper fishing has been solid for boats that can make it out 25+ miles. Boston mackerel, cigar minnows, pogies, and live pinfish will all attract attention from the grouper.
Folden, of Still Outnumbered Charters, reports that dolphin are showing up as close as three miles offshore. Look for the dolphin around the nearshore wrecks and reefs. Live baits and cigar minnows are producing the best results on the dolphin. Boats can cover more water by fast trolling with ballyhoo, but short striking kings will take the ballyhoo’s tails off.
Dolphin and wahoo are still feeding well offshore. Boats should troll Sea Witch-rigged ballyhoo in a variety of colors to see which color the fish prefer on a given day. A few deep running baits in the spread will tempt wahoo that are reluctant to come up and hit surface lures.
Bottom fishing has been solid over the past week. Nearshore, anglers jigging Gulp-tipped bucktails are hooking up with flounder.
Further off the beach, boats are finding grouper, grunts, sea bass, and snappers at hard bottom ledges. Squid and cigar minnows will get plenty of bites from the bottom feeders, and live pinfish on circle hooks will draw bites from the larger grouper.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with whiting and black drum while fishing with cut shrimp.
Flounder (with some keepers and some under-sized) are hitting live baits fished on the bottom. Tiger-side minnows make the best flounder baits.
Plug casters are catching small bluefish in the early morning hours.
Live baiters caught plenty of king mackerel over the course of the week, with the largest weighing 27 lbs. Barracuda are also striking the live baits.
The water is 83 degrees.
