Pamlico/Neuse – August 2022
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that there has been plenty of strong southwest winds over the past few weeks. With that, there has also been plenty of red drum in a wide variety of sizes being caught from up around New Bern all the way down to the sound. Anglers are having success targeting these reds with a variety of methods, from topwater plugs on flats early in the mornings to fishing cut baits around deeper banks and ledges.
Fishing structure both early and late in the day is also providing anglers with some striped bass.
Out towards the sound, anglers are starting to see a few tarpon being caught while bottom fishing larger baits.
Braden Alligood, of Bath, caught this 50″ red drum on a 5″ jerkshad while fishing in the Pamlico River.
James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that the New Bern area continues to produce multi-species days. The right conditions are providing anglers with good catches of striped bass, slot red drum, over-slot red drum, and scattered speckled trout.
Flounder are also being found all the way up the Neuse to New Bern, with great salinity throughout the river system. There has been a lot of bait around to support all this predator activity, and most anglers expect this overall pattern to hold steady late into the fall.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that the redfish bite has been hot on most days. Topwater plugs and gold or bronze spoons have been providing most of the action. When scouting areas, some anglers are also having success with popping cork setups and 3-4” soft plastic jigs. If all else fails, cut bait fished close to structure has also provided some action.
The striped bass bite has been steady as well. Topwater plugs have been providing a lot of this action in the morning. Later in the day, hard baits and soft plastics will help anglers stay on the bite.
Lots of flounder have been in the mix for those fishing soft plastics anywhere down along the bottom.
Anglers fishing out towards the sound have been seeing sheepshead starting to show up in good numbers around the hard structures in the river.
The trophy class of red drum are making their way into the river systems. Most of the action is currently found out in the sound.
Dana, of Reel2Reel Fishing, reports that good, salty water throughout the river system has anglers seeing a solid summer speckled trout bite, alongside good numbers of red drum. Targeting marshes out in the sound are also providing a good trout bite. Anglers are having success fishing both topwater plugs and swimbaits under popping cork setups. If fishing through the hottest parts of the day, it is key to target areas in the deeper (5-6’) range, as many of the flats will have too high of a water temperature.
Black drum have started moving up the river all the way to New Bern. Targeting hard structures such as bridge pilings and docks that have a little moving water is providing the most strikes.
There’s a great striped bass bite for anglers fishing soft plastics on deeper ledges and topwater plugs around structure early in the mornings.
Out in the river mouths of both the Neuse and Pamlico, anglers are also starting to find action on a few tarpon while fishing with bottom-rigged fresh croaker.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that both the water temperatures and weather have been hot, making it key for anglers to be on the water early or be fishing later in the afternoons. At daybreak, anglers are finding a good topwater bite on both speckled trout and red drum. As the day has moved on, anglers can garner a few strikes while casting soft plastics along deeper banks and ledges or soaking cut and live bait setups near structure.
Out towards the sound, anglers fishing cut baits around shoals and deeper holes have been hooking into a few citation class red drum and tarpon.
Kilbey Boone caught this 41″ red drum on a Redfish Magic in the Pamlico River.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that fishing has been strong with all the bait now moved into the rivers and plenty of salinity keeping the bite active. Topwater striped bass fishing has been great, especially for anglers fishing structure both early in the mornings and in the cooler evenings.
Some large speckled trout are moved out along the river’s edges.
There are good numbers of flounder mixed in for anglers fishing any baits near the bottom, and the tarpon action has really been picking up.
Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains consistent for anglers targeting the river shorelines with Carolina-rigged live bait.
A few speckled trout are mixed in the action, though the bite is scattered as a result of high inshore water temperatures.
Tarpon have started to show up around the river mouths and out into the deeper holes in the sound.
