Pamlico – April 23, 2015
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding some red-hot topwater striped bass action in the Neuse River near New Bern. Most of the fish are feeding around shorelines near structure like stumps or schools of bait, and Storm Chug Bugs and Rapala Skitterwalks have been the best bets for fooling them lately. Some are also falling for D.O.A. soft plastics on weedless swimbait hooks.
Cindy Yount, of Morehead City, with a striped bass she caught in the Roanoke River near Weldon while fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Further upriver, anglers are connecting with freshwater species like crappie, bass, pickerel, sunfish, and channel catfish on a variety of soft plastic baits.
Downriver, anglers are finding a few speckled trout and red drum near Oriental.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the striped bass bite in the Neuse River around New Bern has been excellent recently (with fish running 12-30”). They’re falling for topwater plugs early and late in the day around bridges and areas of shoreline structure like stump fields. When the sun’s high, working D.O.A. jighead/soft plastic combos around deeper ledges and bridge pilings will keep anglers in the action.
Bill Davis, of Alliance, NC, with a 26″ striped bass that struck a topwater plug in the Neuse River near New Bern while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Some puppy drum are showing up around docks and other structure in the lower Neuse, and they’re biting baits and a variety of lures.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that there’s been some incredible striped bass action in the Roanoke River near Weldon lately (with some half-day trips producing 100+ fish). The stripers are biting soft plastics like Z-Man Streakz on 1/2 oz. Meathog jigheads, along with live shad, both while drifting and anchored up.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that striped bass are on the feed in the Roanoke River near Weldon as their spawning run gets underway. Anglers are hooking big numbers of stripers on a variety of lures, including bucktail jigs, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and flies like Clouser Minnows. Largemouth bass, pickerel, and other freshwater fish are looking for meals in the same areas and biting the same baits.
Shad are in the creeks in the same area and responding to smaller flies, soft plastics, and spoons.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid striped bass action in the area, with the best fishing up the Tar River at present. Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogues and bucktail jigs or soft plastics are producing most of the action with the stripers, but some are also falling for topwater plugs.
Speckled trout and flounder are still feeding downriver around Bath and falling for artificial lures that anglers are working. Gulp baits have been fooling both fish, and anglers are connecting with plenty of the specks on suspending hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s.
