Pamlico – December 10, 2015
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are seeing fish in a transitional pattern, with unseasonably warm temperatures keeping them stuck between their fall and winter routines. The speckled trout bite has been good for some anglers and not others, as the fish haven’t made their big winter move up the creeks and are still scattered along the lower Neuse River’s shorelines.
With water temperatures 55-60 degrees, the fish are still feeding in the river, with a few in the creeks closest to the sound. Staying on the move is helping the successful anglers hook big numbers of small trout along with a decent mix of legal to large fish.
Soft plastics have been outproducing hard baits over the past weeks, with the D.O.A. Deadly Combo popping cork rig a top choice at present. As the fish begin to move into the creeks and key in on more finfish prey, the hard lures like the Rapala Twitchin’ Rap and MirrOlure MR17 should become more effective.
Striped bass have been feeding further downriver than usual, with an excellent bite between Minnesott Beach and Oriental in recent days. Anglers are connecting with solid numbers on topwater plugs worked around docks and other structure and while working soft plastic jigs around deeper spots and when the fish don’t want to bite on the surface.
The Storm Arashi Top Walker is a new lure that’s proven particularly effective on the stripers, and the company’s Chug Bug plug is a classic topwater choice as well. For the subsurface fish, the D.O.A. Terroreyz jig has been proving itself highly effective.
Kirk Ammons, of Belhaven, NC, with a 7 lb., 8 oz., 28″ speckled trout that he hooked in a Pamlico River creek while working an MR17 MirrOlure.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing some solid mixed bag action in the lower Neuse River and the nearby creeks at present. Striped bass are feeding in the same areas as speckled trout and puppy drum, and all three are taking a hearty interest in soft plastic baits like D.O.A. CAL lures along with suspending plugs like the Rapala Clackin’ Rap. Some large white perch have been providing a tasty bonus along with the larger fish as well.
Fly anglers can also get in on the action with sinking minnow patterns.
Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, with a 23″ striped bass that bit a D.O.A. Terroreyz jig in the Neuse River near Minnesott Beach.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of striped bass on the Pamlico River at present, and topwater plugs have been fooling many of those fish.
Panfish like white perch and crappie are also looking for meals in the Pamlico and its tributaries. Smaller spoons, soft plastics, and spinners are tough for the tasty panfish to turn down.
Megan Dewar with a hybrid striped bass she hooked while working topwater plug along a Neuse River shoreline in New Bern.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of striped bass in the Pamlico River, and the action should hold up for much of the winter. The fish are biting a variety of artificial lures, with soft plastics and swimbaits some of the best bets around the deeper structure where they’re often holding this time of year.
Some white perch are also on the feed in the Pamlico and devouring smaller artificials than the stripers.
Isaiah, of East Side Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing plenty of action with speckled trout in the lower Pamlico River right now, but only around 10% have been keepers. Most of the specks are taking an interest in suspending baits like MirrOlure MR17’s.
The striped bass action has been solid around Washington and at the Bayview Reef. Anglers are hooking the fish on topwater plugs and lures like Rat-L-Traps around town and while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers near the reef.
There’s still some decent white perch action in the Pungo River, but the bite will be tapering off as the water cools. Small artificial lures like Beetle Spins and grass shrimp are producing most of the action with the perch.
