Added on Thursday, July 3, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro July 3, 2008

Jeff, of FishN’4Life Charters, reports that summer flounder fishing has picked up around the inlet channels, docks, and structure such as rocks and bridges. There are still a lot of fish below the new 15.5″ minimum size limit, but anglers are now catching a decent number of 2-4 lb. keepers as well. Live finger mullet and mud minnows on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties, and anglers are also hooking them on 3″ Gulp pogies on 1/4 oz. jigheads.

Sheepshead fishing has been excellent with anglers hooking big numbers of 1-4 lb. fish around the bridge pilings and some larger fish (5+ lbs.) while drifting shallow grass flats on the rising tides. Live fiddler crabs on small hooks are the best sheepshead baits.

Red drum are still forming large schools on the shallow flats, and smaller groups of fish are feeding along the marsh points in the bays and creeks on rising tides.

Gulp pogies and shrimp on light jigheads and spinnerbaits are hot lures for the reds, and anglers are also finding some action while working topwater baits along flooded grass lines.

The oyster rocks along Bogue Sound, White Oak River, Queens Creek, and the creeks behind the barrier islands are holding a lot of small black drum from 1 to 2 lbs. The best bait is a live shrimp fished under a float.

The nearshore structure is still producing plenty of king mackerel, spanish mackerel, cobia, amberjack, and dolphin, and on the bottom there are a few flounder mixed in with large numbers of sea bass.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that extremely low tides in the Swansboro area last week made for excellent sheepshead and black drum fishing around the bridge pilings, as the fish were forced out of some of their shallower feeding grounds. Fiddler crabs are the most effective baits for both, but anglers are also scoring with live shrimp.

There are still plenty of schooling red drum feeding on the area’s shallow flats, but the low water made them difficult to get to as well. Anglers who can figure out where the drum go when they leave the flats (generally not far) should be able to hook up with them in adjacent channels and deeper holes.

Flounder fishing is improving, with anglers landing good numbers of 15.5-20″ keepers along with the short fish. Anglers are hooking the flatfish while fishing live baits on Carolina rigs near docks in the ICW, as well as drifting the Coast Guard channel and inlet.

The ladyfish are beginning to make an appearance, and the coming week’s evening high tides should make for some good fishing near Swansboro. Live shrimp or finger mullet, Gulp baits, and other lures should produce action with the ladies.

Speckled trout are feeding near the brackish water edge in the creeks and the White Oak. When it rains, the fish are moving towards the sound to stay near the edge. Most are larger breeding females.

Off the beach, king and spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent around the nearshore reefs when it’s calm enough to get to them. Drifting or slow-trolling live finger mullet or pogies on short wire leaders and treble hooks has been producing hookups with both mackerel species (and the smaller spanish are running 4 lbs. and up).

Spadefish should begin to show up on the reefs soon, and anglers can chum them up and hook them on virtually any shellfish or on jellyballs.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that bait has been plentiful at the alphabet buoys this week, especially the Charlie Buoy, creating ideal conditions for a variety of gamefish.

Lots of king mackerel (some up to 25 lbs.) have been feeding around the buoys and other structure.

Dolphin have been scattered near the Charlie Buoy and Southeast Bottoms. Live cigar minnows will get attention from both the kings and dolphin, and anglers should also try dead cigars on Pirate Plugs for a different presentation.

There have also been some cobia (most 30 lb. class fish) holding around Charlie Buoy, and they’re falling for live cigar minnows.

Barracuda and amberjacks are patrolling the AR’s and will fall for live or dead baits, too.

The live bottoms are holding plenty of sea bass and a few nice gag groupers. The Southeast Bottoms and the Hutton are producing some good bottom fishing.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that the water in Onslow Bay needs to warm up 2-3 degrees for the dolphin fishing to get really fired up. The water is around 79 degrees, and it should be 82-83 this time of year. The fish are beginning to move in closer, though, and spots in around 90′ should be holding good numbers this week.

There are plenty of kings holding at spots in 60′ and deeper, although most are smaller (but legal) fish.

Menhaden still haven’t arrived in force around Swansboro, but anglers should begin seeing them soon, as they’re passing through the Cape Fear and Snow’s Cut right now. Jig baits (both sardines and cigar minnows) are plentiful around the alphabet buoys. Anglers should come prepared with both red and green-headed sabiki rigs, as the baitfish seem to choose which one they prefer by the day.

 

James, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are still catching a mixed bag of bottomfish such as whiting, spot, croaker, pigfish, and more.

There are a few blues and spanish still feeding along the beaches, where anglers can cast metal lures to them from the surf or troll Clarkspoons and other lures from boats.

Nearshore structure is holding some larger spanish mackerel, kings, and some dolphin, and anglers are hooking up with all three on live and dead cigar minnows and on ballyhoo.

Inshore, the red drum bite is still hot, and topwaters (especially 808 color MirrOlures) are producing excellent results.

Anglers are catching a lot of sheepshead under the bridges, mostly on fiddler crabs.

 

Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen found a run of small spots last week and are landing a few whiting on shrimp.

Spanish mackerel were landed earlier in the week, but the dirty water slowed down the spanish bite.

Anglers fishing live mud minnows on the bottom are landing some flounder, but many are undersized.

Live baiters caught two tarpon last week.

The water is 78 degrees.