Swansboro – May 28, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports cobia have shown up off Bogue Inlet, with both fish cruising solo and shadowing “bait balls” within a few miles of the beach. Large buctkail jigs and soft plastics are fooling most of the fish, and anglers can bait up with live or dead menhaden as a backup if the artificials aren’t working. The fish and bait seem to move east towards Cape Lookout by the day, so anglers can either follow the action or wait for new groups to show up from the west.
Spanish mackerel have arrived in force along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking good numbers (most fish 15-20”) while trolling Clarkspoons just offshore.
Sarah Smith with a red drum that struck a weedless Gulp bait in a marsh behind Bear Island while she was fishing with Capt. Jonathan Garrett of On Point Fishing Charters.
Amberjacks and black sea bass are looking for meals around bottom structure in the 12-15 mile range. The bass will take a variety of baits on bottom rigs or smaller vertical jigs and bucktails. Anglers can tempt the jacks to bite larger jigs, live baits, and topwater plugs at times.
Flounder are collecting at structure 5-10 miles out and will get more numerous over the coming weeks. Bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits will attract attention from the flatfish.
Jason Evans with a pair of dolphin he landed near The Rise while fishing with Cliff Holloman on the “King Finz.”
Anglers are also seeing good numbers of flounder in the inlets (with a decent keeper ratio) and fooling them with Gulp baits and live mud and tiger minnows.
The red drum bite has been good at the mud and grass flats in the local marshes. Both soft plastic baits and topwater plugs have been getting their attention lately.
Sheepshead have moved inshore and are feeding around bridge and dock pilings in the ICW. Anglers can tempt the sheeps to bite live fiddler crabs dangled close to the structure.
There’s also been some decent mixed-bag action in the White Oak River, where anglers casting small soft plastics and live peanut menhaden are connecting with red and black drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some cobia around schools of menhaden off Bogue Inlet, but the bite can be good one day and tough the next.
Legal black sea bass have moved into structure as shallow as the 35’ depths, and anglers are hooking good numbers from there out to spots in over 100’ of water. The bass will fall for baited bottom rigs, bucktails, or metal jigs like Stingsilvers.
Amberjack have also made a move toward the shoreline, and there have been solid schools holding around structure in 50-60’ over the past week. The jacks will take live baits or a variety of artificial lures when they’re in a feeding mood.
Dolphin fishing has still been good for boats making the run to the break, and anglers bottom fishing found gaffer ‘phins in the 90’ depths over the past weekend, too, so the dolphin are headed inshore as well. Live baits, rigged ballyhoo, and a variety of artificials will fool the dolphin.
Ryan Hocker with a king mackerel that struck a cigar minnow off Atlantic Beach.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of dolphin while trolling the Gulf Stream at present. Most are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Cobia are still cruising and feeding on bait schools within a few miles of the beachfront. Anglers can sight cast or fish blind around bait schools with bucktail jigs or soft plastics to connect with the cobes.
Inshore, there’s still plenty of red drum action in the marshes and bays off Bogue Sound. Anglers are fooling the reds with topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live and cut baits.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that live baiters have landed several cobia from the end of the pier over the past week.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier are hooking good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits is producing some spot, and small live baits fished on the bottom are tempting bites from a few flounder.
The water is 75 degrees.
