Swansboro – April 14, 2016
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf casters are finding good action with sea mullet, pufferfish, and even the occasional black drum just past the breakers. There should also be some summer flounder moving into the area soon, but the majority of them will be undersized fish until the water warms significantly. Double drop bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp will fool most anything in the surf zone.
Inshore, there has been a steady trout and red drum bite with some huge schools of reds spotted in area marshes recently. Live mud minnows will fool both species, but soft plastics such as Powerbait Ripple Shad or Gulp Swimmo fished on jigheads or weighted hooks will also tempt bites.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports the local inshore fishing has been great recently with plenty of fish around to be caught. Most notably are the huge schools of redfish in area marshes. Some schools of 50-100 fish have been spotted lately. A slow presentation with a little bit of patience is the key to catching these fish. Live mud minnows under a popping cork is sure to produce bites, but anglers unable to obtain live bait can use soft plastics or suspended twitch baits.
The black drum bite has been excellent recently, with some large fish being caught both inshore and offshore. Inshore, the drum are congregating in area creeks in deep holes and around docks both in the ICW and feeder creeks. These bottom feeders can be caught on Carolina rigs with a 1/0 circle hook baited with shrimp or small pieces of crab.
Conner and Jeff White with a double hook up while fishing with Capt. Johnathan Garrett, of OnPoint Fishing Charters. Both reds fell for Z-Man baits covered in Pro-Cure bait scent.
Jonathan, of OnPoint Fishing Charters, reports that there has been a mixed bag of inshore fish being caught recently, with the most consistent action being red drum in area marshes behind the barrier islands. On sunny days anglers are able to sight cast to under-slot to mid-slot fish using soft plastic baits such as Zoom jerk shad laced with Pro-Cure.
There had also been some topwater action before the cold front, so as the weather warms again, that bite should return.
There have been a few speckled trout caught in mainland creeks off of the White Oak River, but the fish are scattered and the majority of them are undersized fish.
Mixed in with the trout are a few flounder, but like the trout, most of them are too small to keep. Fishing for both species should improve as the waters warm. Storm Shrimp and Betts Billy Bay Halo Shad are fooling both the trout and the flounder when anglers are patient and willing to stay on the move to find fish.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that Gulf Stream fishing has been solid recently. The wahoo bite remains consistent just past the break, with some large fish in the 60-70 lb. range caught recently. Large live baits like bluefish and spanish mackerel are great for catching larger wahoo, but anglers can also catch them trolling ballyhoo on skirted lures or naked. There has been some scattered blackfin tuna mixed in the same areas as the wahoo, but anglers looking to connect with them need to scale down their lures for the smaller fish.
The first blue marlin of the year was caught last week, and Gulf Stream trollers should begin to see more.
Offshore bottom fishing has improved recently, with anglers catching more species closer to land. Black sea bass, triggerfish, and beeliners are being caught in the 60-70’ range on live bottom and in areas with low lying structure. Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs tipped with squid will put plenty of fish in the boat.
Closer to shore, anglers are connecting with bluefish in the 2-3 lb. range while trolling Clarkspoons behind 2 oz. trolling weights or #1 planers. If the fish are feeding on the surface, they will bite most any flashy lure such as Big Nic diamond jigs or Epoxy jigs.
There have been reports of large schools of Atlantic bonito and false albacore to the south. As the water warms, anglers should keep an eye to the horizon to find feeding birds to locate the schools. Just like the bluefish, both species will take interest in flashy jigs and trolled Clarkspoons.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet, pufferfish, rays, and small spots. Fishbites on double drop bottom rigs are getting plenty of sea mullet and pufferfish on the deck, but the rays prefer cut bait on Carolina rigs.
The water is 57 degrees.
