Pamlico – July 6, 2017
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore trout action has kept anglers busy. Most are throwing pearl white Gulp shrimp rigged on 1/8 or 1/4 oz. jig heads. They’re also ringing the soft plastics under popping corks. Targeting marsh banks with deeper water has been the ticket, and anglers tossing their lures from the bank out towards the ledges are having better success.
Flounder have been mixed in the same areas as the trout. Most of the flounder have been on the short side, but a few fish landed have been keepers.
Madison Smith, of Indiana, with a striper caught targeting docks in the Oriental area. She was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Todd, of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, reports that despite the less than ideal weather, fish have been chewing in the Neuse River, Bay River, and Pamlico Sound. Anglers fishing for puppy drum are having good success working soft plastics around creek mouths, docks, and other structure. Lots of the redfish are being caught in stumpy conditions where they are schooled up and feeding.
The striped bass bite is still on fire, even though the keeper season is out. Anglers have been catching good numbers on topwater, and casting soft plastics around structure is also producing. Reports of fish exceeding 30″ have come in on several different occasions. Although anglers are not able to keep these fish, they are still providing fast-paced action.
There have been several sightings of old drum migrating into the Neuse River (and several tarpon spotted as well). One angler caught and released a tarpon estimated at 120 lbs.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that speckled trout have been feeding along the lower Neuse River shorelines. Working Storm plastics on jig heads, as well as under popping corks, has produced limits of keeper fish. Tossing topwater plugs early in the morning has also produced some larger trout.
Red drum have been holding in the same areas as the trout, but they have been more sporadic. Most of the reds have been slot fish.
Working live bait or Storm plastics on jig heads has produced a few flounder. The majority of the fish hooked have been just under the legal limit, but a handful of fish have been over the 15” mark.
Stripers have been holding near New Bern, and soft plastics rigged under corks and on jig heads has produced well. When fishing early in the day, topwater plugs have also worked well for these fish.
Tarpon have started to move into the Pamlico Sound, and their numbers should increase over the next few weeks.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that fishing the Neuse River has provided anglers with a variety of species. Speckled trout fishing has been best in the early hours of the day, and targeting them with topwater plugs and Gulp shrimp under popping corks has worked best. Focusing on marsh banks around the lower Neuse has been most productive.
Striper fishing remains consistent, and those tossing topwater plugs have landed plenty of upper-slot fish. Yee Ha swimbaits have also worked well when fish aren’t feeding on top.
Redfish and flounder have been mixed in the same areas, and throwing live finger mullet pinned on Carolina rigs has been the most enticing combo for both species. Most of the reds have been between 18-22”, with the occasional upper-slot fish mixed in. The flatfish have been a mixed bag of short and keeper-sized fish.
Derek Smith (age 10) with a striper caught on the Neuse River shore line while fishing with Capt. D Ashley King of Keep Castin’ Charters of New Bern.
James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that menhaden have moved into the Neuse River, and most anglers are having success fishing near the bait pods. Keeping an eye out for bait showering and birds working bait pods has led to mixed bag catches of speckled trout, redfish, striper, and flounder.
Working topwater lures like Zara Spook Jrs has been best in the morning and evening hours, and the MirrOlure MR-17 has also been a hot bait when fishing near menhaden.
Flounder have hit soft plastics worked off the bottom. Most fish have been short, but a few keepers are in the mix.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the early morning and late evening bite has produced non-stop action around docks and other structure. Tossing topwater plugs for stripers has been the main event, but some redfish have been mixed in the same spots.
Casting the D.O.A. Deadly Combo popping cork rig around points in the Neuse River has landed limits of speckled trout. Most fish have been under-sized, but if you take the time to weed through the smaller fish, there are keepers to be had.
Big drum have been seen moving into the mouth of the Neuse River, and it shouldn’t be long now until the bite kicks off.
