Swansboro – September 28, 2017
Rich, of Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers plugging from the shore and the piers have landed bluefish, spanish, and false albacore on Stingsilvers and Castmasters, and those tossing cut bait in the suds have hooked into a few over-slot red drum. While bottom fishing in the surf, a few keeper flounder have also been landed.
Out at the end of the piers, a few kings are starting to be caught.
Those targeting the sound have found solid numbers of speckled trout. Most fish have been staging around grass banks and shell beds. Tossing artificials like Zara Spook Jr. topwaters and Z-Man plastics have worked great, but live shrimp under a float rig has been the best way to box limits of fish.
A few flounder are still hanging around inshore, and anglers have had the most luck with live finger mullet on a Carolina rig. Docks and creek mouths closer to the inlet have been the best places to start searching for flatfish.
The offshore wahoo bite has heated up. Those that have made the ride off the beach have had success landing good numbers of quality fish.
Hilda Martinez, from Washington, NC, with a pair of red drum her and Mike Voustinas landed using mud minnows and shrimp.
Andy, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that the redfish bite has not slowed down at all. Anglers are finding good numbers of fish in the marsh and waterway. Cut and live mullet on a Carolina rig has been the best way to hook into some redfish action, but artificials like topwaters and soft plastics have worked well, too.
A few keeper flounder have been landed while redfishing. Most anglers have hooked up with the flounder while using live finger mullet near docks and oyster structure.
A few trout are being landed in the sound, but they’ve been scattered. Fishing live shrimp and soft plastics under popping corks around marsh islands and creek mouths has been the key to finding a few specs.
Out in the surf zone, the bottom fishing has produced some quality fish for the cooler. Sea mullet, pompano, and spot have all been landed on a variety of fresh shrimp and sand fleas.
Those tossing Castmasters in silver and gold from the shore have found a consistent spanish and bluefish bite.
Just off the beach in the 1-5 mile range, the king bite has started to pick up. Many fish have been landed while trolling dead cigar minnows, but the larger fish have preferred live bluefish.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that targeting the marsh near the inlets has produced some great fishing. Those fishing the falling tide have found large amounts of bait pouring out of creek mouths and holding against marsh banks. When finding these schools of bait, speckled trout, gray trout, black drum, red drum, flounder, spanish, ladyfish, and bluefish have all been present. Live mullet and shrimp (or soft plastics) tossed up to the banks have gotten the job done.
Those venturing up area rivers have found some topwater action in the mornings. Redfish and speckled trout have been holding around oyster structure as well as on the flats. Most anglers have had the best luck tossing live shrimp under popping corks, and when using live shrimp, a few black drum and flounder have been landed as well.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that the redfish are feeding well in area marshes and rivers. Most fish are schooled up and willing to take a variety of baits. Live finger mullet on a Carolina rig has worked best, but soft plastics on a jig head have gotten the job done, too.
The flounder bite has been hit or miss, but a few flatfish are still being landed. Tossing a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig near docks and creek mouths has been the best way to box a few keepers.
Speckled trout fishing has picked up a little. Targeting marsh points and oyster beds has worked well. Topwaters, as well as MirrOlure MR17s, have been the lures of choice for the specs. Anglers tossing live shrimp under float rigs have also landed good numbers of fish.
Just off the beach, the spanish fishing has remained steady. Trolling Clarkspoons has produced the best numbers of fish, but light lining live baits around structure has produced some bigger ones.
In the 5-10 mile range, the king fishing has picked up. Live menhaden and cigar minnows have been the baits of choice when fishing around structure. Most of the kings have been in the 10-20 lb. range.
Connor and his sister, Sabrina, with a 19” flounder that was caught using Gulp shrimp while canoeing across Pages Creek.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that the nearshore king bite has improved. Larger fish are making their way in, and those using live menhaden and cigar minnows have done best. A few teenager-sized fish are still in the mix, but the quality of fish is improving daily.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has heated up. Many anglers have landed citation-sized fish, and many days have produced multiple fish. The planer rods have accounted for most of the wahoo bites, and pulling Jag heads with black/purple skirts has been the key to success.
Those looking for dolphin have found a steady bite when trolling baits with blue/white skirts. A few sailfish and blackfin tuna have been mixed in.
Carla, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the puppy drum bite has picked up, with those fishing cut mullet on the bottom landing fish for the cooler.
When using fresh shrimp on bottom rigs, anglers have picked up sea mullet, pompano, and a few speckled trout.
Out at the end of the pier, a few kings have been landed.
