Swansboro – March 24, 2016
Bob, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are beginning to connect with red and black drum that are holding in the sloughs behind the breakers, especially near inlets and large sand bars. On sunny days anglers may be able to sight cast to the reds with soft plastics; however, fresh cut baits such as mullet or shrimp on bottom rigs may be the best bet to connect with the over slot reds that frequent the beachfront.
Sea mullet and pufferfish are also showing up in the surf zone and can be caught on smaller bottom rigs tipped with shrimp or artificials such as Fishbites bloodworms or EZ-Shrimp.
Capt. Ricky Kellum, of Speckled Specialist Charters, with a trout he caught in Swansboro on a Billy Bay Perfect Sinker shrimp.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the recent warm weather has brought tons of bait into the Bogue Sound area, and anglers are connecting with plenty of hungry fish. Red drum are being found in huge schools of 50-200 fish in mainland creeks on low tide and saltmarsh bays during high tide.
Scented plastics such as Gulp or DOA jerk baits seasoned with Pro-Cure on weighted hooks are great lures for the still-chilly redfish. On warmer days, the winter holdovers can be tempted with topwater lures like the Strike Pro Boogie Walker or MirrOlure 26MR.
Nearshore species such as bonito, bluefish, and spanish mackerel haven’t made their appearance yet, but it shouldn’t be long as the water approaches 64 degrees.
Johnathan, of OnPoint Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are still schooled up in large groups behind Bear Island. Most of these fish are going to be under-slot to mid-slot fish, as the larger ones move offshore during the winter. Casting soft plastic baits and gold spoons are good ways to locate fish when they can’t be sight casted to. However, when the drum are sunning on shallow mud flats, they can be tempted with topwater plugs such as the Rapala Skitter Walk or Heddon Spit’N Image.
The trout and flounder fishing has improved with the recent warm weather. The bite isn’t great, but anglers are hooking a few of each species in creeks and bays off of Bogue Sound. Anglers looking to connect with either species can do so with popping corks baited with live mud minnows or artificial shrimp, suspending twitch baits like the MirrOlure 17MR, or soft baits such as Gulp jerk shad or Fishbites Xtreme Scent Release jerk baits.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that the offshore bottom fishing has been great recently, with full limits of beeliners, triggerfish, and black sea bass being caught starting in the 60’ range. Bottom rigs using smaller hooks with squid and other cut baits will fool these tasty bottom feeders. Anglers should start at areas such as the Southeast Bottoms and work their way out from there.
Further offshore past the break, there has been solid action with wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjack, and even some dolphin. Lures such as Ilander Flashers or Big Nic Mac-a-Hoos rigged naked or with ballyhoo can fool all the pelagic species.
It’s still early in the season for dolphin, but anglers may find them if they locate floating debris or weedlines. Trolling lures such as the C&H Dolphin Delight or Rattle-Jet rigged with ballyhoo or strip baits will tempt bites from these acrobatic fish.
There hasn’t been anyone targeting king mackerel recently, but there should be fish within the 35 mile range if anglers can find water near the 70 degree mark. Most of these early spring kings can be taken on #3-#5 Drone spoons trolled behind a #2-#3 planer. And if anglers can find live bait, they should have better luck at finding larger kings. The key to fishing with live bait is slow trolling over offshore structure such as ledges, rocks, and wrecks.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with pufferfish and sea mullet. Both of these species will take an interest in shrimp and bloodworms fished on bottom rigs. As the water warms, red and black drum should start showing up. They can be caught on the same baits used for the pufferfish and sea mullet, so anglers should be prepared for anything.
The water is 60 degrees.
