Swansboro – October 12, 2017
Bob, of Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers fishing the surf have landed a variety of species. Red drum, black drum, spanish, bluefish, and pompano have all been hooked. Those casting fresh cut mullet have found action with the bluefish and red drum, and fresh shrimp has worked for the black drum and pompano.
In the early morning hours, tossing Kastmasters from the beach has been the ticket to hooking up with plenty of spanish action, and those fishing from the end of the pier have landed six kings this past week.
Anglers fishing inshore have found solid speckled trout action. With cooling water temperatures, the specs have bunched up in the marsh and have been feeding well. A mix of soft plastics on jig heads and live shrimp under float rigs has done the trick.
Anglers have also landed quite a few slot-sized red drum in the marsh. Targeting marsh banks and oyster beds with fresh cut mullet and topwaters has worked best.
A few flounder have been in the mix while fishing for reds. Most of the flatfish have fallen for a live finger mullet pinned to a Carolina rig.
Jerry, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that casting jigs from the surf has produced some good spanish and false albacore action. Tossing Kastmasters, Stingsilvers, and Hopkins spoons have all worked from the shore and pier.
Inshore fishing has picked up, with speckled trout feeding well. Anglers targeting deeper holes with live shrimp and soft plastics on jig heads have found limits of fish in the 14-18” range.
Redfish have also been holding in the marshes. Those targeting marsh points and banks have found the most fish. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs, as well as fresh cut mullet, have worked best.
Spots have just started moving inshore, and anglers have started to hook them on a regular basis.
Capt. Rob Koraly, of Sandbar Safari Charters, with a 7 lb. sheepshead that hit a live shrimp underneath the Swansboro Bridge.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has started to heat up in the area. Those targeting deeper marsh channels with live shrimp and Zoom jerk shads on Fathom Inshore jig heads have found limits of fish.
Red drum are starting to move out through the inlets and into the surf. However, some of the reds can still be found holding on the flats and in the rivers. Gulp plastics, topwater plugs, and live mullet on Carolina rigs have all worked well.
Just off the beach, the false albacore bite is on. Casting jigs to busting fish has been the best way to hook up with these hard fighting fish, and reeling the jigs very fast has been the key to getting bit.
King mackerel fishing has been good from just off the beach and out to the five mile range. Targeting structure with live menhaden and cigar minnows on king rigs has been the best way to hook the kings.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that fall fishing has kicked off and the nearshore king bite is on fire. Many fish in the 25-35 lb. range have been landed. Live baits have been the key to hooking good numbers of bigger kings.
Offshore, the wahoo and sailfish bite remains strong. A few blackfin tuna and dolphin are also in the mix.
On the bottom in around 100′ of water, the grouper bite has been consistent.
Trey Sweet with a 33” red drum that fell for a piece of frozen mullet on a double drop rig tossed into the surf near Onslow Beach.
Carla, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the king bite from the pier has heated up. There were six kings landed this past week.
For anglers targeting the bottom, there have been sea mullet, croaker, and pompano landed, and those casting jigs from the pier have hooked in to plenty of spanish and bluefish action.
