Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – June 2023
Hunter, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that surf anglers have had a bunch of success casting metals to land both spanish mackerel and bluefish. Some bluefish are also being caught on bottom-rigged baits.
A cobia was landed off the beach. These fish are in the area, and though not common, it does happen that they move in close enough to the beachfront.
Inshore action continues to pick up, with the scattered red drum now more actively feeding with all the bait around.
Speckled trout action has been tapering off, but there are still catches mixed in.
Sheepshead and black drum action has been a little spotty as these fish move in and stage up around structure.
Nearshore anglers are seeing a hot spanish mackerel bite, with some citation-sized fish mixed in the action.
A couple schools of late season bonito also continue to be scattered around, though it’s not really a species you can specifically target.
The area is in the midst of cobia season, and anglers are having quite a bit of success based on the number of weigh-ins. Both sight casting and bottom fishing tactics are getting these fish to strike.
Offshore anglers have seen a steady mahi bite while fishing out towards the Big Rock, and there are also some blue marlin coming from out that way.
David Willis and George Beckwith, both of Morehead City, caught this 42 lb. cobia using a bucktail jig. They were fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey, of Mount Maker Charters.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that there have been a lot of red drum staged up along the ICW. Soaking live or cut bait on Carolina rigs around docks has produced most of the bites.
Anglers fishing topwater plugs have seen the action really pick up, mostly with speckled trout and scattered over-slot red drum, and they’re locating these fish while targeting grass flats and oyster beds.
Nearshore trips have been finding a nice class of bluefish around the shallow flats.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been really strong, with good numbers and some nice-sized fish (to 5 lbs.) in the mix. Light tackle setups with casting jigs are the preferred tactic, but trolling will also produce good numbers.
Cobia started showing up, and anglers are having success both sight casting and bottom fishing baits around the Cape.
Anglers headed out to deeper structure (in the 80’ range) are catching grouper, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are scattered, but anglers are finding plenty of success targeting oyster rocks and docks that are holding bait. With all the live bait around, fishing cut menhaden has been producing most of the strikes.
Anglers back in the creeks have found some speckled trout while fishing Gulp shrimp under popping corks.
Nearshore anglers have been all about targeting cobia that are in the area. Bottom fishing with live bait has been producing the best action, and anglers headed out to the Cape area can help their chances by bringing along chum. There has been no shortage of anglers out there, and any slight advantage to draw fish to your own baits can make all the difference.
All along the beachfronts are schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish. Anglers can quickly find these fish by searching around some of the many bait pods.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that it’s that time of year that has anglers focused mostly on the cobia action. So far, anglers have been doing best by fishing with shad around the inlets and Cape Lookout. A lot of this is due to the unfavorable weather patterns making sight casting efforts difficult. If everything can stabilize, look for these cruising fish off the beach around bait balls and turtles.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish are around the inlets and shoals off Lookout. Casting metal jigs has produced many strikes.
Atlantic bonito action has continued to remain steady, even this late into the season.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that the dolphin have shown up well. On some days the bite has been close (out in 20-25 fathoms), and on other days boats need to dodge scattered grass out deep (in 200 fathoms) to get the bite they need.
When fishing these deeper areas, be ready for blue marlin because they have moved into the area.
Bottom fishing for gag and scamp grouper has been steady. The gags are feeding mostly around structure and ledges in the 14-20 fathoms range, whereas the scamps are holding deeper (from 40 fathoms and beyond).
Gary Kozlusky, from Ocean Isle Beach, caught this 31″ bluefish on a subsurface Rapala. He was fishing near Cape Lookout with Capt. Joe Tunstall, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that dolphin moved into the area and the action has been pretty steady. These fish are moving around a bunch and are being caught all over the place. On some days the schools are pushed in shallow (120’), and the next day they are out in 600’+. This fishery has been all about finding the right conditions, whether that is weed lines, temperature breaks, currents, or a mix of the above. Sizes are varied, from the 8-10 lb. fish right on up to a handful of 40+ lb. class fish.
There are some wahoo mixed in the offshore trolling action.
Billfish action, blue marlin in particular, has been excellent since these fish moved in with the mahi. Expect to see most of these big blues out in that 600’+ area.
Bottom fishing remains strong for anglers looking to target the 80’+ structures. Catches have included large black sea bass and vermilion snapper.
Arnold, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers getting onto the pier early have been enjoying the good spanish mackerel and bluefish bite. Mornings have been best for finding these schools feeding on top, with later evenings also seeing a push. In the middle of the day, the fish are more scattered and pushed down.
Bottom fishing has been a bit spotty in this transition to warm weather seasons. Anglers have been catching a few pompano, gray trout, smaller pigfish, and croakers.
