Swansboro – March 3, 2016
Robby, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that when the wind allows, anglers have been finding large schools of red drum in local marshes. These schools will be filled with mid to upper slot reds. With the colder water temperatures, anglers should slow down their presentation of scented plastics, and that should tempt the reds to bite if they are in a feeding mood. Cut baits can also be used if the plastics aren’t producing.
Capt. Dale Collins, of Fish or Die Charters, with a pair of 22” speckled trout he hooked while casting an MR18 MirrOlure in a Swansboro-area marsh.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there are red drum in Bogue Sound creek mouths and muddy flats. The trout bite has been slow the last few weeks, but it may improve with the warming weather. Anglers looking for trout should start in the White Oak River and work their way back into smaller feeder creeks.
Red drum and flounder can be found behind the barrier islands, and the fish will be less elusive as the weather warms.
Atlantic bonito should start showing up towards the end of the month, and large bluefish will be found around the same time. Anglers can connect with both of these toothy fish with flashy casting lures such as Epoxy jigs or Stingsilvers.
Nearshore rocks and reefs are holding black drum, tautog, and sheepshead. All species will take an interest in shrimp or crab on fluorocarbon bottom rigs. Anglers may also find both black and red drum holding in sloughs between sandbars and near the inlets where shrimp or cut mullet on bottom rigs can be used to hook up.
Further offshore, beeliners, triggerfish, and black sea bass can be found on bottom structure in 100-150’ of water. These tasty fish can been caught on bottom rigs tipped with squid, cut baits, and small vertical jigging lures.
Michael Favata with a flounder that he caught on a Berkeley soft plastic while fishing the White Oak River in Swansboro.
Johnathan, of OnPoint Charters, reports that sight fishing for red drum has been great in recent weeks, with the fishing improving as the weather warms. The drum have been schooled up in groups of 50-100 fish on flats behind barrier islands in the Swansboro area. The mid-slot winter holdovers have been taking an interest in Zoom jerk baits soaked in Pro-Cure scents. On colder days, the fish seem to prefer mud minnows under a float cork, so anglers should be prepared to change up their presentation.
Trout are on the move back to the river, but the bite is not as consistent as it was earlier in the winter. Topwater lures have been producing bites in the early morning and late evenings, but suspending MirrOlures such as the Catch2000 or L29MR are putting more fish in the boat.
There has been a few flounder mixed with the trout, but they are few and far between.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are still finding plenty of wahoo, although it has often been windy which has limited the amount of days anglers can make the run. If anglers can find water in the 70-75 degree range, there should be a chance to connect with wahoo, blackfin, or even yellowfin tuna. All three species will attack ballyhoo or a variety of trolling lures, with smaller lures best for the tunas.
Bogue Inlet Pier will be opening up for those without season passes on Saturday, March 12. Beach fishermen report that they are still connecting with a few blowfish, sea mullet, and small bluefish. There were also a few black drum caught recently. With the warming weather, fishing from the pier will only improve as the larger bluefish and more drum arrive on the beachfront.
There should also be more redfish and black drum in the sloughs behind the breakers near the inlet and sandbars. Anglers looking to connect with the drum can do so on bottom rigs tipped with shrimp or crab.
