Morehead City – October 13, 2016
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the spot and sea mullet have moved into the inshore waters and are being taken on spec rigs, specifically Sam’s Glitters Spec rigs. Plenty of gray trout are mixed in with the spot and sea mullet, so it shouldn’t be difficult for anglers to find a cooler full of fish to bring home. Most of the fish are coming from Beaufort Inlet and the Beaufort drawbridge area.
The Haystacks area has been holding large numbers of both redfish and speckled trout. The reds are being spotted cruising beside grass banks and oyster bars looking for an easy meal. The specs are holding in deeper water with a strong current.
Anglers interested in connecting with a hungry trout should focus their efforts on fast moving water with noticeable structure like oyster beds or grass bank points. Both species are falling for live shrimp, mud minnows, topwater plugs, and popping corks.
Red drum are also being found on the beach by anglers fishing cut baits in the troughs just behind the breakers. Cut mullet, menhaden, or spots have been the best baits when paired with a fish finder rig or old drum rig with large circle hooks. The majority of the fish being caught in the surf have been just over the slot limit.
Off the beach, anglers are still finding large numbers of spanish mackerel and false albacore feeding on schools of glass minnows. Most of the action has been around the Cape Lookout area, but anglers should be able to connect with them anywhere that large concentrations of bait are found. Fishing small flashy jigs like Diamond jigs, Kastmasters, and Epoxy jigs around busting fish has been the best method for connecting with both species.
King mackerel are being caught close to shore, with many anglers finding them just behind the breakers. Northwest Places should be holding plenty of hungry kings soon, and anglers can tempt them using live menhaden, bluefish, or blue runners on live bait rigs. Dead bait like cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs can also fool a hungry king, and they can be trolled faster allowing anglers to cover more ground in order to find schools of feeding fish.
Out in the Gulf Stream, the wahoo and blackfin tuna bite has been excellent, with anglers finding both species from the Big Rock down to the Swansboro Hole. Naked and skirted ballyhoo have been the ticket for putting fish in the boat.
Jeff Clark, of Newport, with speckled trout caught in the Newport River on MR17 MirrOlures.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been excellent recently in the marshes around Morehead City, and it should only improve as the water temperature goes down. Fishing fast moving water and structure has been the key to success with finding the specs. Artificial baits pinned to jigheads or weedless hooks have been producing the most action with large fish, but anglers can always target trout using live shrimp under a popping cork.
Offshore, gag grouper, amberjack, and barracuda have been caught by anglers fishing vertical jigs and live bait on Carolina rigs near wrecks, live bottom, ledges, and rocks. Anglers are also finding an excellent king mackerel and sailfish bite in the same areas. Both species are taking interest in live bait, like bluefish and menhaden, on live bait king rigs.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are finding a mixed bag of fish in the marshes inshore. Speckled trout, flounder, and red drum have been caught by anglers fishing soft plastics and Gulp shrimp on jigheads and weedless hooks. They’re also having success with live shrimp on popping corks. Grass banks, oyster beds, mudflats, creek mouths, and fast moving currents can all be holding all three species.
Walter Horodink, of Cape Carteret, pictured with mate Robbie Hall, with a king caught while live bait fishing with Capt. Bobby Bourquin of Teezher Charters out of Emerald Isle.
Bailey, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are finding large numbers of spots, black drum, and sea mullet while soaking fresh shrimp on double drop bottom rigs. Red drum are falling for live mullet and mud minnows pinned to fish finder rigs. Bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught on Gotcha plugs worked from the end of the pier.
The water is 79 degrees.
