Swansboro – August 6, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there’s still plenty of red drum action in the local marshes and bays off Bogue Sound and the connecting rivers and creeks. The reds are feeding along grass lines, oyster points, and other edges in the shallows. Anglers are hooking a few on topwater plugs and soft plastics, but live baits like mullet and shrimp have been the most effective offerings recently. There have been plenty of both in the same areas as the reds for anglers looking to load up on bait.
Black drum are also feeding in the marshes, particularly around oyster rocks. They have a tough time turning down a live shrimp as well.
Flounder fishing remains good inshore, with the best action around the ICW channel edges and marsh drains on falling tides. Some red drum are feeding in the same areas, and live finger mullet are very effective on both. Gulp baits and other soft plastics can also produce results for anglers looking to hook up on artificials.
Sheepshead fishing remains solid around the area’s docks and bridges. The sheeps will fall for live fiddler crabs or other crustaceans fished tight to the pilings of the structure.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding just off Bogue Inlet and along the beachfront. Anglers can hook the spaniards on Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and inline sinkers.
The wind has made it tough to get out in the ocean in recent days, but anglers will likely still find some larger spanish mackerel and king mackerel feeding around structure within 10 mile of the beachfront. Both can be targeting with live baits slow-trolled around the spots.
Flounder are looking for meals around the same wrecks and rocks where the mackerel are feeding. The flatfish will bite live baits or bucktail jigs tipped with Gulps.
Jared Gartlan, of Wilmington, NC, with a 5.3 lb. sheepshead he hooked in the ICW near Emerald Isle while fishing with his brother-in-law.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with bottom feeders like black sea bass, porgies, and more while dropping baits to hard bottoms and reefs in 40-60’ of water. Squid and cut baits fished on smaller hooks are fooling all the fish.
Some flounder are likely feeding in the same areas and will respond to live baits or bucktail jigs.
The mackerel, cobia, and dolphin action nearshore slowed a bit over the past week, but anglers pulling live baits around local buoys and reefs are hooking some big barracuda. Amberjacks are feeding in many of the same areas and will also pounce on live baits and occasionally lures like topwater plugs.
John Robert King, of Wilmington, with a slot red drum that bit a topwater plug in an Emerald Isle marsh while he was fishing with John Mark Lavigne.
Robbie, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing plenty of red drum action in the local marshes. The fish are biting topwater plugs, a variety of soft plastics, and live finger mullet.
The inshore flounder bite is improving, with some of the best action at docks and other structure along the ICW. Anglers can fool the flatfish with live finger mullet or Gulp baits fished along the bottom.
Out in the ocean, anglers are seeing some large spanish mackerel and a few kings around nearshore structure like the Keypost. Both will pounce on live menhaden or mullet fished on light wire leaders.
Some flounder are feeding at the same spots in the ocean, and anglers are picking up decent numbers of keepers while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs near the structure.
Offshore, trollers are finding a few fat wahoo, but the blue water trolling bite has been slow overall recently.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier reports that anglers are primarily connecting with bottomfish like spot gray trout, and sea mullet at present. Shrimp are producing most of the action.
Some flounder are falling for live baits fished under the pier.
Plug casters are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas and other jigging lures from the pier.
A few larger spaniards fell for live baits fished from the end of the pier last week.
The water is 83 degrees.
