Swansboro June 18, 2009
Lance Chambers and Jason Pippin with dolphin and king mackerel they hooked while trolling pink-skirted ballyhoo between the Nashville and the Normania with Capt. Tim Price.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum and sheepshead bite has been on fire near Swansboro lately.
The sheepshead are holding tight to the bridge pilings and other structure in the area, as the recent rains tend to concentrate them near the structure. Fiddler crabs fished on modified Carolina rigs (short leaders and small, strong hooks) are producing lots of bites from the sheepies (most 2-4 lbs.). A falling tide seems to produce the best sheepshead fishing.
The reds are feeding in the marshes, but they are pretty skittish at lower tides. On the higher tides, the reds are feeding actively, and anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs and mud minnows, finger mullet, and peanut pogies under popping corks.
Some reds are also feeding back in the river systems alongside some speckled trout. Live shrimp under a popping cork are tough to beat for both species.
Flounder fishing continues to improve, and anglers are hooking up with the flatties in the inlets, the deeper channels, and up the rivers and creeks (where the largest fish have been coming from lately-up to 6 lbs.). Carolina-rigged mud minnows, mullet, and pogies will all get attention from the flatfish.
Ladyfish are beginning to show up, and they along with bluefish are hitting topwater plugs near the inlet. The fish should be showing up in numbers in the waterway any day now. Nighttime fishing with live shrimp, topwater plugs, or glow Gulp baits will produce action with the ladies once they arrive in full force. And anglers should have no problem figuring it out, since the ladies feed more explosively on the surface than anything else in the ICW right now.
King mackerel are all over the artificial reefs, and anglers can hook them on live pogies. There are plenty of perfect-sized pogies in the ICW at lower tides and working into the creek when the water’s rising.
Cobia are feeding nearshore as well, and anglers are seeing good numbers at spots 2-6 miles off the beaches. The brown bruisers should have a difficult time resisting a live pogy.
Dolphin are feeding at some of the AR’s and other structure slightly further out, and anglers are hooking the ‘phins while trolling live baits and dead cigar minnows.
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Kristy Daniels with a pair of dolphin (18 and 21 lbs.) she hooked on ballyhoo while trolling a weedline 10 miles west of the Big Rock aboard the "Beagle" with Capt. Bill Dillon.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that gaffer dolphin are feeding heavily not far from the beaches. The action’s been solid at spots in 40-70′ of water like the Charlie Buoy, AR-345, 45 Minute Rock, the Southeast Bottoms, and other nearby areas. Trolling ballyhoo has been producing most of the fish, but anglers can also drag dead cigar minnows or live pogies and cigars with success.
Some king mackerel and plenty of barracuda and amberjack are feeding in the same areas, and live baits will increase anglers’ chances of hooking the AJ’s and kings.
Gag grouper are feeding on structure in the 70-80′ range, and they will pounce on a bucktail tipped with a live or dead cigar minnow or other bait.
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Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that boats are still killing the dolphin as close to shore as the 45 Minute Rock. Ballyhoo rigged under sea witches are producing most of the action.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beaches, and boats are hooking plenty of both while trolling small Clarkspoons.
Some king mackerel are feeding in the same areas as the spanish and dolphin, but the king bite’s been a bit spotty.
Inshore, anglers are finding plenty of red drum in the marshes. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits are fooling most of the reds.
The sheepshead bite has been excellent around the bridges, where anglers are hooking them on fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits.
Flounder fishing has been picking up lately, and most anglers are hooking the flatties on live mud minnows or finger mullet. Most of the fish are coming from the inlet or channels in the creeks (where several in the 5 lb. class have been reported lately).
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Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that live baiters landed a 32 lb. king mackerel last week.
Bottom fishermen are decking some big black drum (up to 6 lbs.), spot, and some fat pompano (up to 2 lbs.). Shrimp and sand fleas are getting the job done on the bottom feeders.
Plug casters are finding action with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
