Koraly Report August 23, 2007
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there is an abundance of bait (particularly finger mullet and shrimp) in the creeks and sounds throughout area backwaters. Red and black drum are both cruising the flats and feeding heavily, taking advantage of the plentiful forage. Anglers should be able to locate the drum in 2-3’ of water in the marshes behind Emerald Isle and in the White Oak.
With so much natural food around, the drum are turning up their noses at spinnerbaits and other artificals, so anglers should use live baits for the best results with both species of drum. Artificial purists may be able to tempt the reds to strike topwaters on especially calm days or in the early mornings.
Flounder are feeding in the marshes and around the inlets, but the larger fish have moved into deeper holes in the ICW, Queen’s Creek, White Oak River, and around boat docks and the Coast Guard Station. Nearly all of the flatfish around this deeper structure are keepers, and some are as large as 23”. Carolina-rigged finger should produce plenty of strikes from the flounder.
The sheepshead bite has slowed down, but the fish will begin feeding well again as the water temperatures fall below 80 degrees in September.
Ladyfish are feeding at night all over the Swansboro area. Anglers can target the ladies around dock lights in channels at night. Live baits will produce the most action with the ladies, but they’ll strike a variety of lures as well. Falling tides are the best time to target the ladies, and next week’s early evening falling tides may represent the last prime time to target the ladies around Swansboro.
Spanish mackerel are feeding within a few miles of the inlets in the early mornings. The action is usually over by 9:00 AM, but anglers who get out early enough should be able to find some breaking mackerel schools. Anglers should use lures that match the size of the bait the spanish are feeding on. Gotcha plugs work well when the fish are eating larger sardines, but when the fish are chasing Glass minnows, anglers must downsize to ¼ oz. diamond jigs or Yo-Zuri Live Bait Minnows.
Anglers can hook up with big blacktip and spinner sharks behind shrimp boats culling their catch near the beach. Butterflied spanish mackerel make excellent baits for the sharks.
The nearshore reefs are holding plenty of flounder, but many are on the small side. Target the larger fish by using large baits such as pinfish and larger pogies on Carolina rigs.
Some amberjacks (up to 40 lbs.) are feeding on nearshore structure as well. They’ll strike the same baits anglers are fishing for flounder, and provide a challenging battle on the flatfish gear.
Some gag grouper have also moved onto the nearshore structure. A few are over the 24” minimum size limit, so angler going out for flounder land a surprise grouper dinner. Large live baits are key to landing the bigger grouper.
