Added on Thursday, July 16, 2009  Fish Post

Morehead City July 16, 2009

Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are finding good numbers of red drum in the Haystacks and the marshes of the Newport River and Core Creek. Many are smaller, but anglers are landing a few reds to 30” while casting topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and live baits under popping corks.

Flounder fishing has been solid this week as well. Live baits on Carolina rigs are producing most of the action, and anglers are finding the flatfish while drifting the channels and at the base of the port wall (where 8.5 and 11 lb. fish were hooked last week). There are also good numbers of flounder feeding out at AR-315, where Spro bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp are producing most of the action.

The sheepshead bite has also been hot lately around the port wall, with most of the fish falling for fiddler crabs and sand fleas.

Spanish mackerel are feeding in the inlet and along the beaches. Boats are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons, mackerel trees, and bird/squid rigs. Some larger spanish (4-6 lbs.) are feeding around the nearshore reefs, and they’re more likely to hit small live pogies or mullet.

Surf and pier anglers are picking up black drum, whiting, pigfish, croaker, sheepshead, and pompano on shrimp, sand fleas, bloodworms, and squid.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and other casting lures.

Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been excellent on the east side of Cape Lookout near bottom structure. Anglers are finding a few in the Beaufort Shipping Channel as well. Live baits and dead cigar minnows are both producing action with the kings.

Dolphin fishing is still solid offshore. Most of the fish right now are coming from weed lines in the area, and small ballyhoo or cigar minnows under trolling skirts will fool them.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with a variety of tasty species 20-25 miles off the inlet. Grouper, triggerfish, snappers, and sea bass are all feeding at structure in the range, and anglers are fooling them with squid, cigar minnows, or Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs.

 

Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been hot just inside the inlet and along the beaches outside. Trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs will put the mackerel in the boat.

King mackerel have been scattered throughout the area, with good reports coming from the Northwest Places and the wrecks east of Cape Lookout (like the Atlas Tanker). Live baits are the best bet for the kings.

The dolphin bite has pushed offshore a bit (although a 20-pounder was caught at AR-320 this past week), but there’s still some good action around the 14 Buoy for boats making the trip. Small ballyhoo under sea witches are producing most of the bites.

Inshore, there’s been excellent speckled and gray trout fishing under the Atlantic Beach Bridge at night. Anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp, while most of the grays are falling for jigging lures like Stingsilvers and Shore Lure Glass Minnows.

Puppy drum are feeding in the Haystacks and the marshes off the Newport and Neuse Rivers. Live mud minnows and finger mullet, Gulp baits, and topwater plugs will all get attention from the reds.

 

Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that wrecks and other structure in the area are holding king mackerel (some 20-25 lbs.) and dolphin. Trolling live pogies is the best way to hook up with both.

Amberjacks are also thick around the wrecks, and they’ll take an interest in the pogies as well. Anglers have also been battling a few on fly gear.

Good sailfish reports are coming from the wrecks off Ocracoke.

Puppy drum (ranging from under to over-slot fish) are feeding in the marshes near the inlets and around Brant Island. Anglers can hook them on a variety of lures, and Rapala’s new Trigger-X plastics have been especially effective lately.

Speckled trout are feeding in the Pamlico Sound in the sloughs around Swan Quarter and Cedar Island, and they’ll take an interest in much the same baits as the puppies.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that anglers are finding a few dolphin and sailfish out in the blue water around the Big Rock.

Good numbers of dolphin and some sailfish are also feeding inshore of the break in 15-20 fathoms. Rigged ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Mini Jags and Witches are producing most of the action with the sails and dolphin.

Live baiting in the shipping channel has been attracting attention from king mackerel (to 25+ lbs.).

Trolling Clarkspoons just off the beaches is producing fast action with spanish mackerel.

 

Cathy, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are picking up pompano in the daytime and whiting at night while fishing with bottom rigs and shrimp.

A few flounder are coming over the rails.

Anglers working Gotcha plugs are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish.