Morehead/Atlantic Beach – November 2024
Nick, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that inshore anglers are seeing the speckled trout action picking up now that water temperatures are cooling down. A lot of bait is still in the area, so both live baits and artificials are having success.
The red drum action has been good, with live shrimp or live/cut mullet having most of the success.
Anglers fishing deep water areas around the Port and bridges are catching some gray trout and a bunch of bluefish. Stingsilvers, Beach Bum lures, or other glass minnow style jigs are having the most success.
Right off the beach, the false albacore bite has been red hot. Anglers are having the most success riding around and casting into surface-feeding frenzies out along the beachfronts and near the shoals off Cape Lookout. Albie Snax, Beach Bum lures, and Hogy Epoxy lures are some of the local favorites.
King mackerel have started pushing off the beach and are now over nearshore structures.
Some blackfin tuna and wahoo are mixed in the nearshore bite. Both of these species will also hit the same slow-trolled live baits that anglers are using to target kings.
Anglers that get out to the Gulf Stream are landing some wahoo and a few sailfish.
Wolfi Acree, of Atlantic Beach, caught this spanish mackerel trolling in Beaufort Inlet using Clarkspoons.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that the king mackerel action is being found from the nearshore reefs on out to the 20-mile range.
Anglers fishing live baits for kings out around areas such as the Big 10/Little 10 have also landed the occasional wahoo.
Nice-sized black sea bass will be working their way in over the shallower areas, and these same nearshore reefs are also holding some gray trout.
Anglers are finding a lot of bluefish around the inlets and off Cape Lookout.
False albacore have been the star of the show. Anglers are finding acres of fish feeding out around Cape Lookout, and they are most willing to hit fly setups or smaller metal jigs.
Inshore anglers are seeing the speckled trout action picking up. For now, these fish are staged up around some of the deeper bridges and areas such as the Haystacks or Newport River.
There hasn’t been much black drum action just yet, but as water temperatures continue to cool, this bite will pick up (by around Thanksgiving).
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that cooler water temperatures have been firing off the speckled trout action. Anglers are finding these fish by following the shrimp that are headed deeper into the backwaters and creeks.
Red drum are around in good numbers, and they’re striking soft plastics under popping corks or rigged on a jig head. When all else fails, a live shrimp or mullet on a Carolina rig will get the job done. Target efforts around oyster rocks and other structures near creek mouths.
Nearshore trips are seeing cool bluefish blitzes, with a bunch of false albacore also in the area.
Targeting gray trout is another option that will only be picking up with the colling temperatures. Anglers can find these fish schooling up around nearshore structures (such as AR-315 and AR-320) and around deeper areas inside such as the high rise bridges.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are catching a mix of speckled trout, red drum, black drum, and a few sheepshead around structure in the ICW. Live shrimp has easily been the top bait for all of the species.
Some large gray trout are staging up around the nearshore reefs and deeper holes around the inlet.
Anglers looking to get in on sight-casting action are finding plenty of false albacore and bluefish out along the beachfront and over to the shoals off Cape Lookout.
The kings are in the 50-75’ depth range, with live bait outproducing anything else.
Chad McCumbee, of Ocean Isle Beach, landed this false albacore off Cape Lookout using a casting jig. He was fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Travis, of Drumroll Charters, reports that false albacore action can be found out around Cape Lookout. These schools have started to get a little finicky with a bunch of pressure on them, and they aren’t staying up on the surface as long.
Bluefish are everywhere, starting right outside the inlets.
A bunch of gray trout are starting to show up over deeper structure areas and out around Cape Lookout.
The speckled trout action is picking up.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that boats have been finding good wahoo action.
There has been some steady dolphin fishing for this time of year. A class of 5-10 lb. fish can often be found holding under grass at the first temperature/color change off the beach. Lately, this has been the 150’ areas.
Boats are also landing a handful of blackfin tuna when in these same areas.
A welcome surprise has been the continued billfish action, with sailfish and a few blue marlin still mixed in out in the deep.
Bri, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers are finally starting to see a good showing of spot and sea mullet. The best action has been found on the higher tides.
Anglers fishing in the surf zone are catching flounder and some just under-slot puppy drum.
False albacore are in the area, and every once in a while, the schools will move in close enough for pier anglers to reach them. Most of the albacore being caught are in the 5-8 lb. range.
