Morehead – June 23, 2016
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the sheepshead bite in the area has been excellent recently, with some larger fish being weighed. The majority of the fish are coming from the high rise bridges, port walls, and docks, but anglers can also find them around day markers and other underwater structure. Fishing fiddler crabs, shrimp, or sea urchins on Carolina rigs close to the structure is the best way to target this species.
Inshore flounder fishing is improving with anglers finding more keeper fish recently. Drifting live baits like small menhaden, mullet, or mud minnows on Carolina rigs has been effective at tempting bites from the hungry flatfish. Anglers have reported that most of the action is coming from the port area, under bridges, and around docks.
The flounder bite is excellent just offshore at nearshore reefs. Anglers are reporting good numbers of flounder coming from AR-315 and AR-320, but it seems that the fish are spreading out more and making their way inshore. Anglers can connect with these offshore flounder by bouncing a 2-3 oz. bucktail tipped with a 3” white or new penny Gulp shrimp just off the bottom. There have also been cobia spotted in the same areas, so keeping a live menhaden drifting behind the boat is a good idea.
Surf anglers are connecting with many different species while fishing off the beach. Sea mullet, spot, pompano, blues, and skates are dominating the catches, but anglers are also reporting increasing action with red drum, black drum, and even spanish mackerel. Flounder are also being caught, but they’re not in reliable numbers just yet.
Offshore, anglers are still connecting with plenty of mahi, with a few fish being caught within the 10 mile range. The majority of the fish are schooled up from Northwest Places out to the Big Rock where they can be caught trolling skirted or naked ballyhoo or a variety of artificial lures. There hasn’t been any consistent action with wahoo recently, but they have been found in small numbers out past the break where they can be caught using the same methods for targeting mahi.
Sara Anderson with an 80 lb. cobia she caught bottom fishing at Cape Lookout. Photo courtsey of Chasin’ Tails.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore fishing for reds and specs has been excellent recently in area creeks and marshes. Areas like the Middle Marshes and Haystacks are holding good numbers of both species. Anglers have also reported seeing large numbers of reds schooled up in the Core Creek area where they are having the most success while fishing live mud minnows or shrimp on popping corks around oyster beds and grass beds. The topwater redfish bite has been picking up recently, with the majority of the action in the early morning and late evening when the winds are light and the fish can be spotted feeding on the surface or in shallow waters.
Anglers fishing at night have been reporting speckled trout and gray trout while fishing live shrimp under a popping cork or on a Carolina rig.
Offshore, anglers are connecting with large spanish mackerel while fishing live menhaden and large mullet early in the morning. Nearshore artificial reefs are holding large numbers of spanish, and king mackerel have been reported in the same area. Trolling #0-#1 Clarkspoons under a #1 planer or 2-3 oz. trolling weight has been effective at targeting the smaller spanish closer to the beaches.
King mackerel have been found consistently at areas from 10 miles out to deeper water. Trolling live menhaden over offshore structure like ledges, rocks, and wrecks will tempt bites from this toothy predator.
Mahi have been spotted in the same areas and will take interest in the same baits, but anglers can increase their likelihood of catching one by fishing without wire rigs.
Dave Cates, of Atlantic Beach, with a sheepshead he caught in the surf of Atlantic Beach on bait shrimp.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing off of the beach has been excellent recently with most days producing a limit of fish in just a short time. Trolling #00-#1 Clarkspoons behind a bird or 2 oz. trolling weight has been most effective at catching the smaller fish that are schooled up in 15-30’ of water. On days when it is too rough to get offshore, there has been steady action with both spanish and blues while trolling inside the hook at Cape Lookout and behind Shackleford Banks. While there may not be as many fish in these areas, there are still plenty to be caught for patient anglers.
Further offshore, anglers are finding consistent action with amberjack schooled up on high relief structure in the 10-15 mile range. Anglers are finding the best way to target them is using live menhaden, topwater poppers, and vertical jigs.
There has been an excellent dolphin bite recently with plenty of fish coming from the 80-100’ water range.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that there is increasing action with flounder in nearshore waters. More of the flatfish are making their way inshore due to the influx of bait and warming water. During this period of movement, many fish are schooled up in and around area inlets where they can be caught on bucktails tipped with soft plastics or strips of squid, and they can also be targeted by using live bait on Carolina rigs.
The spanish mackerel bite remains excellent with most of the fish being fooled by Clarkspoons and other metal trolling spoons.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing Charters, reports that the gaffer mahi bite is excellent, with some large 20-30 lb. fish being caught recently. The majority of the mahi are coming from the break, but they can also be found inshore of the #14 Buoy in areas such as the Northwest Places, Big Ten, and Little Ten. Mixed in with the mahi are good numbers of blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo. Anglers can target all three species using skirted or naked ballyhoo and a variety of trolling lures.
The billfish bite was excellent for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, with several 400-600 lb. fish weighed in and over 100 billfish released despite less than ideal conditions for much of the tournament. Trolling large baitless plugs will fool multiple billfish species.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are finding plenty of success catching spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the end of the pier. Anglers soaking bottom baits are reporting catches of spot, sea mullet, pompano, and blues.
The water is 75 degrees.
