Morehead City October 25, 2007
Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of flounder around Beaufort Inlet, behind Shackleford Banks, and along the port wall. The flatfish are falling for live mud minnows and Gulp shrimp and pogies fished on Carolina rigs. Most of the fish range from just above keeper size up to 3-4 lbs.
Red drum are feeding throughout the Haystacks and Middle Marsh (with most between 18-30”). Anglers are hooking up with the reds while casting spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, and both Gulp and live shrimp under popping corks.
Speckled trout (in the 16-20” range) are feeding alongside the drum, and trout fishing should improve as the water temperatures drop in early November.
Around the inlet, anglers are connecting with some nice catches of gray trout. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp and 3” white Gulp shrimp on Carolina rigs will both tempt bites from the trout.
Spot and whiting are schooled up near the Beaufort drawbridge. Anglers can hook up with both of the bottom feeders on two hook rigs baited with bloodworms.
In the ocean, boats landed some very large spanish mackerel (up to 7 lbs.) last week while fishing live pogies and mullet around AR 315. Some smaller spanish are still feeding around the inlet and along the beaches, where boats can target them by trolling Clarkspoons.
There are still some flounder around AR 315 and 320, but most of the fish seem to be moving towards the inlets.
King mackerel fishing has been really hot over the past weeks, with many boats catching their limits. The king have been running large (plenty in the 20-30 lb. range with some larger), and boats are finding good king bites at the AR’s, the NW Places, Dead Tree Hole, and around Drum Inlet. The kings have been falling for both live pogies and dead cigar minnows (with the live baits appealing to the largest fish).
Bottom fishermen are finding a few grouper at structure around the 90’ Drop.
Between the 90’ Drop and the Big Rock, boats are hooking up with plenty of wahoo, good numbers of sailfish, and a few gaffer dolphin. Ballyhoo trolled under red/black and purple/black skirted are the best blue water trolling baits.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishermen are landing good catches of spot, whiting, and gray trout in the turning basin, around the Beaufort Drawbridge, and in Taylor’s Creek. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms will attract attention from the spot, and anglers can hook up with whiting and gray trout by jigging spec rigs tipped with shrimp just off the bottom.
Anglers fishing the marshes are landing good numbers of red drum and some large trout on topwater plugs and live shrimp fished beneath floats. The trout aren’t terribly abundant yet, but the ones that anglers are landing are large (two topping 7 lbs. were weighed in last week).
King and spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent over the past week. Both fish are feeding along the beachfronts, the inlet tidelines, and at nearshore structure.
In terms of numbers, the best king and spanish bite has been taking place in the Beaufort Inlet shipping channel, where boats have been limiting out with regularity. The kings are falling for live baits, dead cigar minnows, and spoons.
Size #00 Clarkspoons in gold and silver are drawing plenty of bites from the spanish, and they’re fooling the kings as well.
Boats are also landing good numbers of larger kings at spots further off the beach, such as the NW Places. A few large wahoo (50+ lbs.) are also feeding in the same areas and surprising anglers slow-trolling live baits for the kings.
In the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has been best well south of the Big Rock recently, particularly around the Scallop Beds and the 450 line.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the wahoo bite remains excellent. Anglers are also landing some gaffer dolphin and releasing sailfish on nearly every trip. Rigged ballyhoo trolled beneath Blue Water Candy Jags and Mini Jags in blue/white, pink, pink/white, and purple are producing most of the strikes.
The best bite has been well south of the inlet, from the 350 line to the Scallop Beds in around 40 fathoms of water.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that spot have been running well over the past week. Bloodworms are producing the best results with the spot.
Anglers baiting bottom rigs with shrimp are landing pompano and whiting.
Flounder are taking an interest in live baits fished on the bottom, but most have been undersized recently.
Plug casters are catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
