Swansboro – November 12, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there are false albacore feeding along the beachfront around Bogue Inlet. Anglers can spot the schools chasing bait on the surface and cast small diamond jigs or other flashy lures towards the activity to hook up.
Further offshore, there’s been some excellent gag grouper and king mackerel action around rocks and live bottoms 10+ miles out.
Inshore, speckled and gray trout are feeding in the marshes near the inlets, and they’re biting live shrimp and a variety of soft plastic baits.
There’s been a better speckled trout bite in the creeks and rivers on the mainland side of Bogue Sound, where they’ll fall for the same baits. Some smaller puppy drum are also looking for meals in the creeks.
Most of the area’s red drum have moved out to the surf zone, where anglers can target them off the beach and from boats on calmer days. Live and cut baits or Gulps on heavy jigheads will fool the reds in the surf.
Derrick Matthews with a 4.25 lb. speckled torut that bit a 4″ Gulp shrimp while he was fishing near Swansboro with Capt. Dale Collins of Fish or Die Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been finding phenomenal grouper action while dropping baits to bottom structure in 80’ of water and deeper recently. Live baits are the best bets for the larger grouper, but anglers can also hook up on cut and frozen baits or jigging lures.
The king mackerel bite has been hot from the beach out to spots in the 6 mile range. Live baits like menhaden, sardines, and cigar minnows are fooling the majority of the mackerel and also some large amberjacks looking for meals in the same areas.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with speckled trout in the marshes and creeks. Gulp shrimp and other artificial lures are fooling the specks.
Bryanna Parker, of Cape Carteret, with a limit of speckled trout that bit Gulp shrimp in a channel near Emerald Isle.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are connecting with some large red drum off the end of Bogue Inlet Pier and in the surf zone. Smaller puppy drum are also feeding along the beachfront, and both are biting cut baits and finger mullet.
The sea mullet bite has also been good in the surf and on the pier, with shrimp and Fish Bites baits fooling most of the mullet.
King mackerel are still feeding within a few miles of the beachfront, and fall is often when they bite hardest as they prepare to move offshore for the winter. Live and dead baits will attract attention from the kings.
Anglers are still finding flounder at nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet and inshore (with some large fish coming from inshore structure at present). The flatfish will bite live baits or Gulps fished on jigheads and bucktails.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes behind Bear Island and biting live baits and a variety of artificial lures.
Anglers are also seeing the trout fishing heat up inshore, with good numbers looking for meals in the creeks and rivers. They’ll bite live baits, MirrOlures, or a variety of soft plastic offerings.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier reports that bottom fishermen have been connecting with plenty of sea mullet along with some spot and gray trout in the morning hours. Shrimp, bloodworms, and Fish Bites baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Some bluefish are also biting the bottom rigs and casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
Anglers fishing soft plastics and other artificial lures also landed some limit catches of speckled trout last week.
The water is 72 degrees.
