Morehead City May 12, 2005
<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
Lynn, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that spots bit well on the piers Sunday night. Sea mullet are being caught on the beach and off the piers. Blues in the 2-3 lb. range are all over the surf and the near shore wrecks.
Offshore, the yellowfin, wahoo, and king bite continues (when boats can get out). A few dolphin are just starting to show. Look for grass beds and weed lines that are also just starting to form. Head out to the 90’ drop to start the search.
Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and Tackle, reports that Atlantic bonito have been caught at AR 315 and AR 320. There haven’t been a lot yet, but they have been caught. There are also lots of blues and a few gray trout at these reefs. AR 320 also produced a few flounder, including at least one measuring 18 inches. Before the mid-week storm lowered water temperatures, there were increasing catches of specks in the faraway creeks and in the North River. Gray trout were also hitting around the bridges before the 6 inches of rain turned the water to a muddy soup. Once the weather warms and the water clears, the fishing should turn on strong.
Larry, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that they had a run of spots on Saturday and Sunday. Guys are also picking up a few sea mullet. A few speckled trout, in the 1-1.5 lb. range, were landed this week. There’s been a bunch of 1 lb. blues around. All the fish seem to be biting best on 3 hours before to 3 hours after the high tide.
Ken, at Triple “S” Pier, reports that before the storm anglers had put a number of nice fish on the leader board: an 8 lb. 13 oz. blue, a 2 lb. 5 oz. puppy drum, and a 2 lb. 7 oz. black drum. The pier has had its first spring spot run. The blues after the storm are running small, and they are also picking up some hogfish and a pompano or two. The pompano, hogfish, and spots have been biting best on artificial worms. There were also reports of spanish mackerel in the area, such as in the inlets, off Cape Lookout, and guys trolling close to the beach.
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that Atlantic bonito are at AR 315 and AR 320. Blues are also on the artificial reefs. Further out (when you can get out there), the yellowfin, blackfin, and wahoo bite continues to do well. They’re being found all the way from the Swansboro Hole to the northeast corner of the Rock.
Big spots and sea mullets have been caught off the piers, in the turning basin, and at the Dead Tree Hole. Go with fresh shrimp on speck rigs. And there’s been a few gray trout caught in the inlet and behind Shackleford Banks.
