Pamlico – August 31, 2017
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that those casting 3” Gulp shrimp and pogies in pearl white have hooked in to speckled trout. The trout are ranging anywhere between 12-18”. The fish have been scattered, but anglers working longer shorelines and covering water have found fish.
Flounder fishing has been hit or miss in the Pamlico River. Most fish have struck pearl white Gulp plastics around hard structure. A majority of the fish have been on the small size, but anglers picking through the small fish have landed keepers, including some fish weighing up to 5 lbs.
Big drum have started to move in in better numbers, but they are still scattered. Popping cork rigs and cut bait have been the best ways to target these trophy fish.
Jerry Burns with a red drum that was fooled by a D.O.A. Deadly Combo on the South River.
Todd, of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, reports that the big drum bite has picked up between the Pamlico Sound and New Bern in the Neuse River. Fresh cut mullet has been the best way to target them, but some days a large soft plastic under a popping cork has produced just as well. Double digit days have not been uncommon. Anglers focusing efforts in water more shallow than usual (when targeting the big reds) have found the most success.
Puppy drum fishing has also been excellent in the Neuse. Targeting structure and marsh banks with soft plastics and topwater plugs has worked best. Most fish have been in the mid-slot range.
Speckled trout fishing has picked up. Those tossing hard baits and topwaters have landed limits of fish, and some of the trout have been citations. Fishing near active bait pods and marsh grass has been the best tactic.
Those looking for flounder have had success tossing curly tail plastics near structure. Many 3-4 lb. fish have been landed, and a few fish have even pushed the 6 lb. mark.
Ryan White with a speckled trout that fell for a Hatteras Jack custom diver fly in the Pamlico Sound.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that trophy red drum fishing has kicked off in the Neuse River, and anglers have landed multiple fish between 40-50” (with a few going over 50”). Artificial lures like the Bill Lewis StutterStep topwater have gotten the job done, as has fresh mullet when it’s too windy for throwing plugs.
Flounder have been feeding well in the area on a mix of Gulp plastics and live minnows. Most fish landed have been shy of the legal limit, but keepers are there if you’re willing to weed through the smaller ones.
Slot reds have been staging in the Neuse. Those working Gulp shrimp off the bottom have found plenty of action on the keeper-size reds.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that old drum have made their way in to the river, but they still haven’t shown up in great numbers yet. Anglers have found some success, though, using D.O.A. popping cork rigs and fresh cut mullet.
Bull sharks have been in area waters looking for the old drum.
James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that inshore fishing around the New Bern area in the Neuse River has been hot. Large amounts of bait have moved up river, and the fish have followed. Striper, redfish, flounder, and speckled trout have been willing to take a variety of artificial baits. Z-Man plastics rigged on jig heads and under popping corks have done the trick, as well as topwater plugs.
Heidi Ricks, of Ernul, NC, with a red drum that went for a soft plastic under a popping cork in the Neuse River. She was fishing with Capt. Ben Ricks of Ricks Brothers Outdoors.
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that speckled trout fishing has kept anglers fishing the Pamlico Sound busy. Most fish landed have hit soft plastics in natural colors rigged on jig heads. The majority of the trout have been in the 18-22” range, but a few fish have hit the 24+” mark.
Puppy drum have been schooled up well in the Pamlico River and have been willing to take cut bait and topwater plugs. Most anglers have had opportunities to sight fish for reds in shallow water.
Flounder have made their way into the area, and those targeting them have had trips landing 6-8 fish. Most flounder have been in the 15-20” range.
Big drum have started to feed well around the mouth of the Pamlico River. Large pieces of fresh cut mullet fished on the bottom have been the key to landing good numbers of fish.
Spanish have been feeding well, too, near the mouth of the river. Trolling Clarkspoons on #1 planers has provided plenty of action for those looking to put some fish in the cooler.
