Added on Thursday, July 17, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro July 17, 2008

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the recent rains are flushing finger mullet, shrimp and other prey out of Queen’s Creek, the White Oak River, and other area tidal creeks. Red drum, speckled trout, and flounder are feeding near the mouths of the creeks, and anglers can locate the fish by looking for schools of finger mullet under attack from the predators.

Flounder fishing has also been good in the marshes, channels, and the inlet. Live baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish, and anglers are also hooking up while casting Gulp baits in the shallow water.

Red drum are still feeding throughout the bays and marshes. Anglers can hook up with the reds while casting topwater plugs on calm days. In the murky water left over from the wet weather, brightly-colored spinnerbaits are also producing good results.

Sheepshead fishing remains hot around the Emerald Isle and Swansboro bridges, although many of the fish are on the small side (1-3 lbs.). Live shrimp and fiddler crabs should produce action with the sheeps, but anglers who can find larger baits like sea urchins can find action with the bigger fish.

Black drum are feeding around oyster rocks in the White Oak River and behind Bear and Browns Islands. Live shrimp or 2″ Gulp shrimp will draw bites from them.

The spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been good inside the inlet early and late in the day recently.

Ladyfish are feeding around lit docks and bridges in the area after dark. Falling tides are producing the best action, and live shrimp, Gulps, and topwater plugs will entice them to bite.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that bottom fishing is still excellent offshore of Bogue Inlet. Anglers are landing snappers, groupers, and other bottom fish in the vicinity of the Naeco.

The dolphin bite remains consistent around the 210 and 240 Rocks, the 14 Buoy, and offshore to the 90′ drop. Ballyhoo rigged on Pirate Plugs are attracting attention from the ‘phins.

Some stout kings are feeding around the SE Bottoms (with several in the 25 lb. class landed last week). There are still some kings feeding around the D Buoy as well, but large barracudas seem to be beating them to the baits. Anglers casting Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencils around the buoys are scoring vicious surface strikes from the cudas and also hooking some amberjacks.

Nearshore, flounder and sea bass are feeding around the artificial reefs and live bottoms.

Boats are also hooking up with several species of large sharks by drifting live and dead baits behind shrimp boats just off Bogue Inlet.

 

Stan, of Captain Stanman’s Charters, reports that anglers are still finding excellent bottom fishing on boats making the 30+ mile run to 80 degree water. At ledges and other structure in that range, boats are loading up with beeliners, triggerfish, and groupers. Live baits are producing the most action with the groupers.

Some dolphin are also feeding in the areas where boats are bottom fishing, and anglers can hook them on small pieces of bait or by keeping a butterfly jig ready and waiting for the fish to swim up and investigate the boat.

The dolphin bite has been inconsistent in the Gulf Stream, but anglers are landing some nice 20+ lb. gaffers when they find the fish. There have also been some sailfish and decent numbers of wahoo mixed in. Ballyhoo under blue/white skirts are getting the most attention.

The king bite is still decent around the Alphabet Buoys. There have been plenty of jig baits (cigar minnows and sardines) around the buoys, and anglers fishing jigged baits on the downrigger in the lower third of the water column are enjoying the most king action.

 

Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there’s still an excellent topwater red drum bite going on in the backwaters where the fish are feeding in the marshes and bays.

Anglers are catching flounder in the sound and inlet, but most have been on the small side recently.

The rough weather has hurt the surf fishing. Once it calms down and a few tide changes clear the beach of the red grass, however, anglers should begin landing some bluefish, spanish mackerel, pompano, and red drum.

Offshore, grouper fishing has been hot in the 40-50 mile area, where anglers are catching big reds and gags.

 

Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing some whiting and decent numbers of smaller pompano.

Plug casters have been hooking a few blues.

A 70″ spinner shark was caught on a king rig last week.