Added on Thursday, May 25, 2017  Fish Post

Pamlico – May 25, 2017

Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout bite has been plentiful lately. Most of the specs have been falling for Z-Man paddle tails in pearl and chartreuse. While trout fishing, anglers are connecting with a few flounder. The number of flounder aren’t great yet, but they should be on the rise each day.

 

Todd, of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout have just about completely moved out into bigger water (the sound and main river). Anglers who find fish are finding large numbers of small fish.

The flounder bite continues to improve, with good action in the sound and the lower end of the Neuse. Catches include throwbacks, of course, but there are quality fish mixed in, including fish in the 3-4 lb. range. The flounder are hitting a variety of offerings, including Gulp baits, soft plastics (chartreuse or white and curly tail or swim bait), and live mud minnows. Anglers have also been finding fish by wind drifting with cut bait on a Carolina rig on the bottom.

The puppy drum bite has also been improving. The sizes include more middle-slot fish mixed in with the smaller reds. The morning has seen a good topwater bite, and then throughout the day the best method has been shrimp imitations under popping corks.

The striper fishing has also held up over the past couple of weeks, with most fish in the 18-22” range, but a few going 24+”. The stripers right now are structure-oriented, holding close to docks, pilings, and stumps.

Large numbers of bigger menhaden (5-7”) have moved into area waters, and their early presence is predicted to bring the big drum in ahead of schedule this year.

 

Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that the Roanoke River post-spawn stripers are on their way out, and the fishing action has been on fire as a result. The topwater bite has been best in the early morning hours until noon, but anglers have been able to fish topwaters all day long on some occasions.

The Pamlico River is also seeing a strong striper bite right now, with large numbers of fish but the fish running a little small (average size from 12-16”). Most of these fish are on shorelines holding bait, and casting soft plastic swim baits have been the best method.

The Pamlico has also been host to plenty of white perch action. The perch have been active on everything from small rattletraps to little stick baits.

A few flounder were finally landed this week. Most are throwbacks as of yet, but the keeper fish will be showing soon.

The puppy drum action is just starting to get fired up, too. Target the mouth of the rivers, and use cut bait on the bottom (since there isn’t yet a ton of fish in the area).

 

James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that baitfish have moved into the area, and their presence has heated up the topwater bite. Stripers have been hitting the MirrOlure Top Dog. Jr. topwater plug in the morning and then falling for Z-Man MinnowZ throughout the day.

The redfish have also started to feed in the area, and Z-Man ShadZ rigged on Trout Eye jigheads have been the ticket.

 

Flounder have been mixed in while fishing for the stipers and reds, and you can pick them up while dragging and bouncing soft plastics on the bottom.

Speckled trout are feeding in the area, too. Some of the more quality fish have come on Zara Spook Jr. topwater plugs in the morning. The specs will also hit Egret Wedgetail soft plastics throughout the day. Using a variety of plastics under a popping cork is also a good way to get a reaction strike from the specs. The D.O.A. Deadly Combo, however, has been the go to rig recently.

 

Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing success while targeting speckled trout and red drum around the mouth of the Neuse River and in the sound. The best strategy has been throwing the DOA Deadly Combos around marshy shorelines. If you want to connect with red drum, try fishing tight to the bank, but for trout, stay off the bank a little ways.