Swansboro – May 21, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there’s excellent dolphin action in the Gulf Stream at present, and finding fast action with gaffer ‘phins hasn’t been hard recently. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Tom Burton, of Cape Carteret, NC, with a 20 lb. red grouper that he landed on on a 50 lb. monofilament chicken rig while fishing at the Naeco wreck with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters. The red inhaled a chunk of false albacore.
Bottom fishing offshore has also been productive, with anglers hauling up black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, red porgies, red grouper, and more. Squid and cut baits are fooling the bottomfish.
Closer to the beaches, flounder are starting to stack up on structure in the 5-10 mile range. Anglers can tempt the flatfish to bite 2 oz. bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits, and they will also find some black sea bass in the same areas.
Cobia have shown up around nearshore structure and along the beachfront, but finding them day-to-day can be a challenge. Searching for fish swimming on the surface or working lures and live baits around schools of menhaden is the best bet for anglers looking to connect with the cobes.
Inshore, the flounder bite is improving, with good numbers of fish in the inlets, marshes, and around structure like docks. Live baits and Gulps will fool the flounder.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes. Anglers can target them with topwater plugs, soft plastics, and cut or live baits.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been some solid dolphin fishing for boats trolling along the break in 120-250’ of water recently. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna are feeding alongside the dolphin, and anglers are hooking all three on ballyhoo rigged behind sea witches and Ilanders.
Bottom fishing around structure in 100’ of water and shallower is producing plenty of action with black sea bass, beeliners, and red porgies. Squid and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Cobia fishing is just beginning to pick up, and anglers are finding the fish cruising on the surface and mixed in with menhaden “bait balls.”
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf casters are hooking some sea mullet, black drum, bluefish, pigfish, and other bottom feeders while soaking baits off Emerald Isle’s shoreline. Shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the action.
Anglers working casting lures from the pier and trolling spoons and diving plugs from boats are hooking solid numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Cobia have shown up off Bogue Inlet, and anglers are hooking up with the big brown fish while sight-casting bucktail jigs and large soft plastics to fish cruising on the surface or feeding around tightly-packed menhaden schools within a few miles of the beachfront.
Offshore trollers are finding plenty of dolphin action around blue water hotspots like the Rise and Swansboro Hole. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches, Ilanders, and Blue Water Candy JAGs.
Inshore, anglers continue to find solid red drum action in the marshes and bays. Gulps, topwater plugs, and live and cut baits are fooling the reds.
Flounder are feeding in the same areas and around inshore structure like docks. Live baits or Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers working Gotcha plugs from the pier are hooking excellent numbers of spanish mackerel (many 2+ lbs.) and bluefish.
Cobia have shown up and several have been hooked from the pier in the past week, but none laded.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with sea mullet, pigfish, black drum, and some healthy pompano. Shrimp are fooling most of the bottom feeders.
The water is 71 degrees.
