Swansboro – May 26, 2016
Griffin, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that local inshore anglers are connecting with good numbers of redfish in area marshes, bays, and creeks. The majority of the fish are being taken on topwater plugs like the Top Dog and Top Pup early in the mornings. The reds are also taking an interest in live baits like mullet and mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs.
Inshore anglers are still connecting with trout, but the fish are scattered and hard to find. Floating live shrimp under a popping cork will attract the attention of any specks in the area.
Surf zone anglers are connecting with a mixed bag of bottom fish including black drum, puppy drum, sea mullet, and pigfish. Double drop bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp or chunks of crab will fool all four species.
Just offshore, the spanish mackerel bite is excellent with some large citation-class fish mixed in. Anglers should keep an eye to the sky to find feeding birds in order to locate the feeding schools of fish. Casting Gotcha plugs or Epoxy jigs into the school will almost guarantee a hookup.
Trolling #0 or #1 Clarkspoons behind a #1 planer or 2-3 oz. trolling weight will put fish in the boat, too, when they can’t be found feeding on the surface.
Meredith Herndon with a 20 flounder she caught jigging at Keypost Ledge. She was using a 2 oz. Spro bucktail tipped with a Gulp minnow.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that local area marshes and flats are full of red drum. Topwater poppers like Storm Chug Bugs or Rapala SkitterWalks will get the attention of any hungry fish in the area. For more finicky fish, live mud minnows and chunks of fresh crabs fished on Carolina rigs may tempt bites from the more reluctant feeders.
As the water warms inshore, flounder are moving into the same areas as the reds. Anglers should concentrate their efforts on the shorelines of river mouths and feeder creeks using artificial baits like the 4” Gulp shrimp pinned to a jighead or weighted hook. Colors such as new penny and pearl white have been effective lately.
Anglers fishing heavy structure such as old docks and bridges are reporting increasing action with sheepshead. The majority of the fish are 1-3 lbs., but there are some larger ones mixed in. Live fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig with a short fluorocarbon leader will tempt bites from sheepshead and any black drum that may also be in the area.
Cobia are around, but with the recent cool water, the fish have become elusive. The majority of cobia are being taken on live and dead menhaden fished on the bottom. Anglers cruising the beaches and tidelines are still finding cobia on the surface, but they have been reluctant to feed on bucktails and other artificials so anglers should have some live bait like menhaden, eels, or small bluefish ready,
Bryant Murphy, from Smithfield, with a 40 lb. wahoo caught aboard the Carolina Bluewater out of Swansboro.
Jonathan, of OnPoint Fishing Charters, reports that although the cobia aren’t as plentiful as they were last week, there are still plenty around for anglers who are patient enough to wait for the fish to come to them. Anglers looking to connect with one should vary their techniques to include live menhaden on 4/0 circle hooks fished both on the bottom and on balloon rigs, as well as trolling live baits like bluefish and menhaden over offshore structure.
Inshore, the red drum bite is on fire with large amounts of hungry fish in the area marshes. The reds are schooled up in tight packs of 4-5 fish, and they are spread throughout Bogue Sound. Anglers are finding the schools on mud flats, oyster beds, and ICW docks. Gulp shrimp on jigheads are effective for anglers fishing near docks.
If a school of feeding fish is spotted, a topwater popper like the Strike Pro Boogie Walker will be effective when tossed ahead of the school and not directly into it.
Tyler Payne, of Emerald Isle, with a tautog caught near The Keypost while bottom fishing with live crab.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that bluewater action has been great for anglers willing to make the run out to the break. Gaffer dolphin, wahoo, and even some sailfish are being caught past 90’ of water. Naked and skirted ballyhoo trolled near temperature breaks, weedlines, and current rips are fooling all three species.
Offshore bottom fishing continues to improve daily, with anglers reporting black sea bass, gag grouper, and triggerfish being caught on structure like rock piles in 80-90’ of water. Bottom rigs, bucktails, and metal jigs baited with squid or cut bait will fool the bottom feeders.
Amberjack are moving inshore with some caught in 60-70’ of water recently. Amberjack are opportunistic feeders that will eat just about anything, but anglers are reporting increased action with topwater poppers like the Halco Rooster Popper while chumming with stunned menhaden.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that pier anglers are catching large numbers of spanish and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the end of the pier in the early morning just after sunrise. Anglers soaking baits on the bottom are catching pompano, sea mullet, and black drum. Bottom rigs and Carolina rigs tipped with Fishbites and fresh shrimp are fooling the bottom feeders.
The water is 68 degrees.
