Swansboro – November 13, 2014
Bryanna Parker, of Emerald Isle, with a king mackerel that fell for a ballyhoo in 25′ of water just off Bogue Inlet. She was fishing with Capt. Chesson O’Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are seeing speckled trout action all over the area’s inshore waters. Big numbers are feeding in the marshes and around structure in Bogue Sound, where anglers are hooking them on soft plastics and live shrimp and mud minnows. Most are smaller, but plenty of keepers and a few larger fish are in the mix. The majority of the larger specks are headed for their winter holes up the rivers and creeks, where anglers can target them throughout the cold season with slower presentations of both baits and lures.
Red drum are also moving into their cold weather haunts, with a few small fish feeding alongside the specks in the creeks, and schools forming over soft-bottom flats in the marshes. Larger schools are also feeding in the surf zone and around the shoals at local inlets. The reds will fall for all the same baits and lures as the specks.
Some gray trout are also feeding in the inlets, and anglers are finding big numbers around nearshore structure just off the beaches. Jigging lures like Stingsilvers are very effective on the grays.
There are still plenty of false albacore chasing bait nearshore, and metal casting lures like diamond jigs will get their attention.
King mackerel have pushed off to the 20 mile range, but anglers making the run should be able to connect with the kings on live or dead baits.
Roger Brown with an 82 lb. black drum that bit a Billy Bay Halo Shrimp he was casting off Bogue Inlet Pier. Weighed in at Dudley’s Marina.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with solid numbers of speckled trout in the marshes and up the local creeks and rivers. Live baits and artificials like soft plastics are fooling the specks.
Black drum are also looking for meals in the marshes and biting fresh shrimp fished on the bottom.
There are still good numbers of keeper flounder feeding inshore, and anglers are hooking plenty on Gulp baits.
The area’s red drum have made a move to the surf zone, where they’re schooling up near the inlets.
Gulp baits on heavier jigheads will usually attract attention from the reds in the surf.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still connecting with some sea mullet, black drum, puppy drum, and other bottom feeders from the local beachfront. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling most of the fish in the surf zone.
Speckled trout have begun to move into the surf zone as well, and anglers are hooking them on soft plastic baits and MirrOlures.
Anglers are hooking big numbers of specks back in the marshes, creeks, and rivers off Bogue Sound as well. The same artificials along with live baits like shrimp and mud minnows are fooling the trout inshore.
Some red drum are feeding in the same areas and biting the same lures.
Dropping temperatures have flounder on the move inshore, and anglers and giggers are taking advantage (with many 5+ lb. fish around). Live baits and soft plastics like Gulps are the way to fool the flatfish on hook and line.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with black drum from the pier (from undersized to a monster 82 lb. fish caught by an angler trout fishing last week). The drum are biting shrimp, cut baits, and green soft plastics.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are also feeding around the pier and should be for weeks to come. They’ll bite the same baits.
Bottom fishermen can expect some good action with sea mullet and pufferfish as the air and water temperatures continue to fall.
