Morehead City – June 18, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still encountering a few cobia off Cape Lookout and Beaufort Inlet, but the fishing continues to get slower by the week. Anglers should still check out any bait schools they see off the beach for cobia or other larger predators, and there’s often a good bite later in the season for anglers soaking baits in deeper holes in Bogue Sound.
Chopper bluefish have made a late appearance in the area, and anglers had some exciting topwater fishing for them on shallow flats around Cape Lookout last week.
Charles Baker, of Willow Springs, NC, and Brian Johnson, from Raleigh, with 8.35 and 9.20 lb. sheepshead that bit live fiddler crabs near some inshore structure at Morehead City. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Spanish mackerel action along the beachfront is still good, and anglers should be able to catch solid numbers while trolling Clarkspoons around the inlet and along the beaches. Large spanish (to 6-7 lbs.) have shown up around nearshore structure and are biting live baits in the early morning hours.
The flounder action is still decent at the nearshore reefs, where anglers dropping live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs are hooking good numbers. The flatfish bite has been good inshore as well, with structure like the port wall, bridges, and docks good places to look for them. Live baits and Gulps will fool the flatties inshore, too.
Daniel Riggan, of Roxboro, NC, with a gaffer dolphin that struck a live bait at a nearshore reef off Beaufort Inlet.
Sheepshead are looking for meals at the same structure and biting fiddler crabs and sea urchins (some to 10 lbs.).
Amberjacks are schooled up at the same nearshore structure as the spanish and flounder. Anglers can fool the jacks with live baits, jigs, and even topwater plugs when they’re chasing baits on the surface.
Offshore, anglers are still seeing some dolphin at local Gulf Stream spots. The fish have also followed rising water temperatures inshore, so they’re more scattered than a month ago, but anglers may also be able to find action without running 40 miles to the break. The ‘phins will bite ballyhoo, cigar minnows, and a variety of live baits and artificial lures.
Anglers also saw some excellent billfish action last week during the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, with several 400-700 lb. blue marlin weighed in and many more releases of blues, white marlin, and sailfish. It seems now is a great time to target the billfish, and anglers can fool them with larger skirted and naked ballyhoo or by pulling baitless trolling plugs.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite off Beaufort is still going, but anglers are having to work a bit harder to find the fish than in previous weeks. There are some larger spanish showing up around the nearshore AR’s, where anglers can hook them on live baits early in the day. Clarkspoons trolled with planers and torpedo weights are the best bets for anglers trolling for the smaller fish along the beaches.
Anglers fishing out further have found excellent bottom fishing in the 30-40 mile range, landing grouper, beeliners, triggerfish, sea bass, and more. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders. Several blackfin tuna were also landed by boats bottom fishing last week.
The dolphin bite has been a bit slow out along the break, but anglers are hooking a few and last week saw a decent bite inshore as well.
On the beaches, hot water has the surf fishing a bit slow, but anglers are hooking bottomfish like croaker, small bluefish, and plenty of sharks, skates, and rays while soaking baits in the breakers.
Inshore, there’s been some decent action with slot red drum for anglers fishing in Core Creek. Live baits and artificials like Gulps will fool the reds.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers continue to connect with a few cobia around Cape Lookout. Most are falling for live menhaden at present, but anglers can still cast bucktail jigs or large soft plastics with success if they spot fish cruising on the surface or feeding on bait schools.
Bottom fishing remains good, with big beeliners, black sea bass, gag grouper, and more hitting the fish box. Live baits are the best bet for the grouper, with squid and cut baits tough for the smaller fish to turn down.
The spanish mackerel action around Cape Lookout and along the beaches remains excellent, with most of the fish falling for trolled Clarkspoons and metal casting lures like Stingsilvers.
Katrina, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and some bluefish while working casting lures like Gotcha plugs from the pier.
