Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – March 21, 2019
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite has been fairly consistent throughout the winter months, with the most recent weeks producing fish around 18”. The specks are back in the creeks along the ICW, with MirrOlure MR14, 17, and 18s accounting for a lot of the bite. Z-Man plastics and Bass Assassin paddle tails have also drawn strikes. The trout bite should pick up as the water heats up, so there will be some great opportunities for topwater action soon.
Black and red drum, along with 4-5 lb. sheepshead, have been biting around area bridges, docks, and the Cape Lookout rock jetty. The reds are still in their winter pattern and schooled up in the marshes, along the surf zone, and up at the point.
Sea mullet have shown up in the Beaufort Inlet area, and the best action has been coming from the 18 and 19 buoy area, as well as back toward the Turning Basin. The best way to get in on the action is to find the fish on your electronics before even putting your lines in the water, as the mullet stay in tight schools and you’ll have a lot of water to cover. Using Sam’s Gitter Rigs tipped with bait shrimp has been the best way to get a bite once you find the fish.
Black and red drum, along with 4-5 lb. sheepshead, have been biting around area bridges, docks, and the Cape Lookout rock jetty.
There have been a few tautogs in the 3-6 lb. range caught around the Port area, and putting some shrimp on the bottom will get some bites if the fish are around. There is a very limited window when you can catch the tautogs, so the bite is worth taking advantage of.
Bonito have made an early appearance at AR-305, biting Clarkspoons and cigar minnows on Mac-a-Hoos. As the weather warms, the bonito will move closer and closer to shore.
Albacore have been thick in the 20 mile range, where you can see the schools busting the top of the water. Like the bonito, they will be moving toward the beach soon.
Triggerfish have been biting in the 30-40 mile range, but boats have been limiting out on fish as close as 20 miles. Squid wings have been working the best. Sea bass are also readily chewing as close as AR-320.
The wahoo and sailfish bite has been slow over the winter, but they should be heading up toward the Morehead area over the next few weeks.
Baines Raynor proudly displays a red drum and speckled trout he caught on live mullet while fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Jennings Rose, of North State Guide Service.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout bite has been decent in the nearby creeks, as the fish haven’t quite moved out yet. Most of them are mid-sized, and the bite should continue to be strong thanks to the mild winter.
Surf anglers are connecting with puffers, spiny dogfish, black drum, sea mullet, and the occasional red drum. Two-drop high-low rigs with little pieces of cut bait shrimp have been drawing attention from all species.
The buzz around town over the past week or so has definitely been the sea mullet that are stacked up in the Turning Basin, especially by Marker 22. Good numbers of big fish are coming in daily, with drifted spec rigs tipped with shrimp serving as the bait of choice.
Reds are schooled up on the beaches and out toward Cape Lookout. Good weather will allow anglers to go out and sight fish, so take advantage of that on a clear day.
Offshore reports have been slow, but wahoo and blackfin are out there. Bottom anglers are bringing up plenty of beeliners, triggerfish, and black sea bass.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the inshore red drum and speckled trout bite has been fair, and some reds and bluefish have also been biting around the shoals. In the next few weeks, expect a few flounder to start showing up in 60-85’ water just south of Beaufort Inlet. Black bass and triggerfish should start improving inside of 130’, and big chopper blues will be showing up soon as well.
Dave, of Cape Lookout Charters, reports that redfish have been plentiful throughout the winter and into the early spring. Soft swim baits, spoons, fresh cut mullet, and shrimp have all been providing plenty of rod-bending experiences.
The speckled trout bite has been very consistent, and if you can find the bait, you’ll find the specks. MirrOlure MR series lures are accounting for most of the catches in the area.
Sheepshead and black drum fishing has been steady around the bridges, where fresh shrimp and frozen sand crabs are doing the trick.
The big red drum bite on the east beach is starting up, with 25-45 lb. fish in the mix. Bucktails and 2-3 oz. spoons have been very productive.
Capt. Chris Viverette, of Fuquay-Varina, NC, with a 94″ bluefin tuna he landed while trolling a horse ballyhoo behind an Iland Lure. The fish cored out at 464 lbs.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that both red and black drum are holding on ICW docks and area bridges. Whole bait shrimp or Gulps have been the best baits for both species, but switch to cut or live mullet if you want to target the redfish specifically.
False albacore are swimming in the 5-10 mile range, and the best way to make contact has been with small casting jigs in pinks, blues, or greens placed in front of the fast-moving schools. Trolling small deep diver Yo-Zuris will still allow light tackle while targeting fish that aren’t showing on the surface.
Sea mullet can be found from the Beaufort Inlet mouth to the turning basin. Shrimp-tipped speck rigs and high-low rigs will get the job done. Gray trout, puffers, and bluefish have been in the mix as well. Target the grays with 1-2 oz. jigging spoons around deeper inshore structure (like bridges and port docks) to increase the chances of getting a bite.
Flounder are showing up on nearshore reefs and structure. Target depths greater than 60’ with 2 oz. Breakday bucktails in peppermint patty tipped with pearl trailer plastics like Gulp shrimp or Z-Man jerk shadz. Expect keeper sea bass, grunts, and porgies in the mix.
Tom, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that good wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing can be found around the Big Rock. Medium ballyhoo with Sea Witches seem to be the best bait for both species.
Bottom fishing for triggerfish and beeliners has been productive in the 30 fathom range. You can expect both trolling and bottom fishing to do nothing but improve over the next few weeks as the spring rolls in.
Trista, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the only thing coming in since the pier opened on March 14th has been pufferfish.
