Added on Monday, July 4, 2022  Fish Post

Pamlico/Neuse – July 2022

Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that red drum of all sizes have moved into the river system. The bite is just about anywhere, from up around New Bern and the Trent River, down into the sound. Anglers are having success targeting the structured shorelines and areas with cut bait, live bait, or soft plastics.

Speckled trout action has mostly moved down river as most fish are in a summertime spawning pattern. There are still plenty of smaller “dink”-sized fish around, as well as a few keepers for anglers really putting in the effort.

Black drum are now staged around docks and hard structure throughout the river.

Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish are moving in as the lack of local rains have resulted in a good salinity well upstream.

Anglers out near the sound have already seen some schools of tarpon rolling.

Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers have been seeing a good speckled trout and slot-sized red drum bite along the main river shorelines. The warmer water temperatures have these fish active, and anglers will find plenty of success while fishing topwater plugs early and then switching over to popping corks with soft plastics throughout the day.

Striped bass action has been hit or miss in the stretch of river around New Bern. Wind patterns have really been the main factor in determining action, with NE winds providing the most comfortable conditions.

There has been plenty of bait in the river this summer. Over the next few weeks and into the end of July, more citation class red drum should be moving in. In addition, anglers will see some reports of tarpon from anglers fishing the lower part of the river into the sound.

 

James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that fishing on the New Bern stretch of the Neuse River is on fire. Anglers are having great days of multi-species catches while fishing artificial baits on light tackle setups. With the high salinity throughout the area, just about every inshore species has shown up. A mixed catch of red drum, striped bass, flounder, speckled trout, and bluefish are all being caught.

There is plenty of bait in the river, and unless some wet weather moves through, anglers anticipate this action sticking around the area all summer long.

 

Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that the redfish bite has been hot on recent trips. Topwater plugs have been great first thing in the morning, followed by using a variety of soft plastics on jig heads. Anglers can also entice some strikes with live or cut mullet fished under a popping cork.

There has been striped bass mixed in the action when targeting reds.

Speckled trout are scattered throughout the river. Anglers are finding most bites while fishing soft plastics on ledges.

Bluefish have been feeding like crazy throughout the river system.

A good number of flounder are being caught by anglers fishing soft plastics along the bottom. Out towards the sound, sheepshead have started to stage up around hard structures.

 

Dana, of Reel2Reel Fishing, reports that both sheepshead and black drum have moved in and are staged up around structure along the shoreline. Live fiddler crabs rigged on bottom sweeper jigs are a great setup for both these species. The key is to set your boat up above the structure and let these rigged baits drift back into the strike zone.

Puppy drum action has been really good, and cut menhaden or mullet fished under a popping cork has been a great setup for targeting these reds along the shorelines. Having the freshest possible bait is key with so much live bait already in the around. Anglers will have the best success while fishing areas with structure such as stumps, ledges, or really any place for bait to hold.

Schools of spanish mackerel are also moving in from the sound. They’re following the bait balls and good salinity. Trolling Clarkspoons in deeper parts of the river will produce some strikes.

Speckled trout fishing is good out in the sound and around marsh grasses in the lower river. Both topwater plugs and soft plastics fished under a popping cork are great setups for casting around shoreline areas holding bait.

 

Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout fishing is still going strong, though most action has moved more towards the east. Anglers are having success fishing around the bottom areas of the Pungo River, Rose Bay, Swan Quarter, and out towards the marshes that span between the Pamlico and Neuse.

Red drum are just about everywhere in the river system, from the sound to up into Little Washington. These fish moved in with the bait balls and are now staged up along the shorelines hitting a variety of artificial and live bait options.

There are plenty of flounder being caught (and released) along the shorelines using the same live or soft plastic tactics.

Spanish mackerel are working their way inshore, with smaller schools being seen from the sound behind Ocracoke all the way into the Blount’s Creek area.

 

Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that good numbers of flounder are being found just about everywhere right now and will continue that way throughout July. Anglers fishing Gulp soft plastics or live baits on the bottom along sandy shoreline areas should entice these flatfish to bite.

Red drum are also scattered just about everywhere from the sound all the way upriver.

Speckled trout are staged up along the river shorelines and points near creek mouths.

The first few tarpon of the year are starting to show up from the lower part of the river into the sounds.

 

Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that red drum action has really picked up, with good numbers of fish now pushed into the area and staged up along the river shorelines. Live bait has been the top producing set up and will remain that way into the summer months. The sizes of these fish have widely varied from puppies to over-slot fish, with the stray citation drum around.

Speckled trout are hitting soft plastics fished under corks. Most of these fish are smaller, with the larger fish pushed out deeper to spawn.