Morehead City – August 18, 2016
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that there has been scattered red drum action in the Middle Marshes and Haystacks, but with the recent heat the fish are often lethargic and reluctant to eat a fast moving bait. Live mud minnows or shrimp under a popping cork is one of the best ways to fool these summertime reds, but they will also take interest in topwater plugs in the early morning or on cloudy days when the sun is not at full force. The old drum have not moved into the area in large numbers just yet, but with the large amount of bait in the area it will not be long before the action really heats up.
The sheepshead bite has been red hot recently, with some large citation class fishing being brought to the scales. Any heavy inshore structure like docks, bridges, seawalls, rocks, and oyster beds should be holding at least a few sheepshead. Fiddler crabs, sea urchins, or chunks of blue crab on a Carolina rig will tempt bites from this crustacean lover. There are also large numbers of black drum mixed in, and they will take interest in the same baits.
Anglers are connecting with flounder throughout area inshore waters. Drifting live baits on a Carolina rig or artificial soft plastics on a jighead behind Shackleford Banks, beside the port walls, and near bridges has been the most productive method of putting flatfish in the boat, but anglers are also connecting with plenty of fish while fishing under ICW docks. Mud minnows, finger mullet, and peanut menhaden are hard for a flounder to resist, so anglers should look to add these baits to the spread if artificials aren’t fooling the flatfish.
Surf zone anglers are still struggling to put together a steady day of fishing, but it is definitely improving with more anglers reporting redfish and summer flounder while soaking live baits on fish finder rigs just outside of the breakers. Anglers are also connecting with sea mullet, croaker, spots, and pompano while fishing with double drop bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp.
Taylor Keel with a 30 lb. king caught trolling a live bait east of Cape Lookout.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers making the run out to the Gulf Stream are being rewarded with a mixed bag of pelagic species. Wahoo are feeding heavily starting at the 90’ Drop and out towards the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the hoo’s, but anglers may also hook into a blackfin tuna, sailfish, or gaffer mahi while trolling in the same areas. Rips, temperature breaks, weedlines, and other floating structure may be holding fish, so anglers should keep an eye out to find these fish attractors.
Closer inshore there has been a scattered mahi bite due to all of the warm water, but persistent anglers are still putting good numbers of fish in the boat. Fishing a varied spread of artificial lures and natural baits will increase an angler’s chance of success. Getting the baits deep where the water is a few degrees cooler will also put more fish in the boat.
Most of the mahi are 10-15 miles offshore in areas like the 14 Buoy, Northwest Places, and the Big 10/Little 10 where they are mixed in with the occasional sailfish and king mackerel that will take interest in the same baits.
The large spanish mackerel and king mackerel bite has been excellent recently; however, most of the kings are on the small side. The best action is coming from the east side of Cape Lookout at places like AR-285 and the Atlas Tanker, but anglers are also finding them in the shipping channel, Northwest Places, Barge Wreck, and Dead Tree Hole when they don’t want to make the longer run.
Live baiting with medium/large menhaden and large mullet has been the most effective method of putting fish in the boat. Anglers can also tempt bites from both mackerel species with dead cigar minnows on dead bait rigs like Hank Brown Rigs or Pirate Plugs.
Jessica Kurtz (age 10) and Jason Kurtz (age 7) with two spanish mackerel they caught while fishing with Capt. Jerry Elliot on the “Sudden Impact.”
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that anglers are finding large numbers of under-slot to slot reds in area marshes where they are biting best on live bait fished on Carolina rigs and popping corks. The topwater bite has been slow due to the hot weather, but anglers can still coax a few bites early in the morning when the sun is not at full force. Anglers are also finding reds and flounder schooled up under ICW docks and the Port Wall where they are being caught best on live mullet on a Carolina rig during a falling tide.
Old drum have started to move into the Neuse River where they are feeding around schools of large menhaden. Popping corks baited with mullet or menhaden are working best during the day when anglers can find schools of bait to fish around. During the night, anglers are having the best success fishing fresh mullet and spot heads on Carolina rigs while chumming near Garbacon Shoals.
Michael Cummings and Eddie Dean Braxton, of Wet Floors Fishing Team, caught this 52 lb. wahoo off the coast of Atlantic Beach. The fish fell for live menhaden..
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are finding an excellent gag grouper bite offshore in at least 100’ of water. Black sea bass, snapper, grunts, and beeliners are also being caught by anglers soaking baits on the bottom. Cigar minnows, pinfish, and spanish sardines on Carolina rigs are producing the best action, but anglers can also tempt bites using 2-3 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 3” Gulp shrimp or squid strips.
Closer to shore anglers are finding excellent king mackerel and spanish mackerel action in 70’ of water. Live baiting with large menhaden on king rigs are producing the best results. Mixed in with the mackerel are scattered sailfish and mahi that will take interest in the same baits.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing Charters, reports that there has been an excellent wahoo bite for anglers willing to make a run out to the Gulf Stream. Most of the hoo’s are schooled up past the break near the Big Rock and south towards the Rise and Swansboro Hole. Large ballyhoo fished naked or skirted are the bait of choice for putting the most fish in the boat, but anglers looking for quality fish can use bluefish or blue runners to increase their chance of catching larger fish. Artificial lures like cowbells, Stretch plugs, or Hoo Da Bombs have also been putting a number of fish in the boat.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are seeing the typical summer catches of bluefish and spanish while fishing live baits and Gotcha plugs from the end of the pier. Anglers soaking baits on the bottom have been connecting with croaker, sea mullet, and the occasional pompano while fishing double drop bottom rigs baited with shrimp and squid.
The water is 84 degrees.
