Pamlico – May 21, 2015
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the water has taken some time to settle after last week’s tropical storm, but anglers are seeing some good fishing return now that it has settled. Upper and over-slot puppy drum are feeding along the lower Neuse River shorelines and taking an interest in soft plastic baits beneath popping corks. A few healthy speckled trout are mixed in, and flounder are beginning to show up as well.
Gelnn Davies, of PA, with an over-slot red drum he landed off the lower Neuse River after it struck a soft plastic paddletail under a popping cork. He was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Upriver, the topwater striped bass bite near New Bern has improved. Anglers are hooking the fish while casting around shoreline structure like stump fields early and late in the day.
The excellent fresh water fishing in the upriver creeks continues as well, with sunfish, crappie, white perch, and largemouth bass taking an interest in a variety of lures.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some puppy drum show up alongside speckled trout and flounder in the lower Neuse River. Most of the fish are feeding along marshy shorelines, and anglers are hooking them on D.O.A. Deadly Combo popping corks rigs and on D.O.A. CAL soft plastics pinned to jigheads and weedless hooks.
Dean Franks, of Tampa, FL, with a puppy drum he caught on a soft plastic while casting to a Neuse River shoreline with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
There’s still some striped bass action taking place around New Bern, but it’s been hit-or-miss recently. When it’s good, anglers are hooking big numbers of stripers while working topwater plugs along stumpy shorelines and around structure like bridge pilings. Working soft plastics around deeper structure can also be very productive.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are still seeing some incredible striped bass fishing on the upper Roanoke River, and they’re landing big numbers of fish on fly, jigs, and topwater plugs.
Shad are also still feeding in the upper river and creeks and falling for bright streamer flies along with small spoons and jigs.
Kevin Dewar with a 23″ striped bass that bit a weedless soft plastic near New Bern while he was fishing with Capt. D. Ashley King of Keep Castin’ Charters.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing some incredible striped bass fishing on the Roanoke River at present. A wide variety of techniques are fooling the stripers, and anglers have found red-hot action while casting flies, jig/soft plastic combos, topwater plugs, live baits, and nearly anything else the fish can fit in their mouths.
The action has depended on the water level and changing conditions can affect the bite, but anglers are putting together plenty of action even on the slower days.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing a few flounder show up around the mouths of the Pamlico and Pungo rivers.
Puppy drum are also making an appearance in the lower river, with decent reports coming from North Creek and Wades Point. A few speckled trout are mixed in, and all three of the inshore predators are falling for Gulp baits.
