Added on Thursday, June 19, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City June 19, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that flounder fishing remains strong along the port wall. Carolina rigs baited with live mud minnows or finger mullet and fished along the wall will draw bites from the flatfish (most around 18″). Some large bluefish (a few up to 12 lbs.) are also feeding along the wall and will take an interest in anglers’ flounder baits.

Anglers are still catching good numbers of red drum and speckled trout along with a few flounder in the Haystacks and other marsh areas. A popping cork rig baited with a live mud minnow or Gulp bait will prove tempting to all three, and anglers have also had luck on the reds and specks with topwater plugs lately. Trout and red fishing has also been good near the Core Creek Bridge recently.

Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks, and anglers fishing with Stingsilvers or other jigging lures should find success with them.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding wildly along the beaches, and boats are hooking up with them while trolling Drone and Clarkspoons.

Some larger spanish and small kings are feeding at the AR’s. They’ll bite spoons, live baits, or dead baits.

Flounder fishing has been good around the AR’s as well, with boats landing good numbers of fish (many in the 3-4 lb. class) while bottom fishing with mud minnows and finger mullet.

Cobia seem to have vacated the inshore waters, but there have been a few at AR-315 over the past week. Live or dead mullet and pogies should attract attention from the cobia.

Some kings (mostly 10-12 lbs.) are feeding around the Big 10/Little 10, where boats are hooking them on dead cigar minnows.

The gag grouper bite has also been good around the Big 10/Little 10 and the 210 and 240 rocks, as well as on the east side of the shoals. Some triggerfish are mixed in.

The dolphin bite has been wide open for the past few weeks, with anglers finding good numbers of ‘phins around the 14 Buoy and between the 90′ Drop and the Big Rock. Trolled ballyhoo will get their attention.

As the results of last week’s Big Rock tournament showed, the billfish bite has also been on fire out in the blue water.

 

Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that billfish are feeding heavily out at the Big Rock and other blue water hotspots.

Dolphin are also feeding around the Big Rock, as well as at spots closer in like the 14 Buoy and Big 10/Little 10, with the larger fish further offshore. Trolled ballyhoo and cigar minnows will attract attention from the dolphin.

King mackerel action has been decent at the NW Places and the Big 10/Little 10 for boats trolling cigar minnows and other baits.

There have also been a few kings at the AR’s, along with some nice spanish mackerel in the 3-4 lb. class.

A 51 lb. cobia was caught at AR-315 this week on a dead cigar minnow, so while cobia have been scarce inside, there are still a few on the AR’s.

Surf fishing action has been good all week as well, with anglers catching good numbers of whiting and some pompano on sand fleas and shrimp.

Spanish mackerel are also feeding in the surf zone and just beyond the breakers. Boats are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and mackerel trees. Surf and pier casters are finding action with the spanish while throwing Gotcha plugs, Stingsilvers, and Glass Minnows.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that the summer’s stellar dolphin fishing continues. The best action recently for the largest gaffers has been north and south of the Big Rock around weedlines and rips. The action has been anywhere from 18-23 fathoms and deeper. Ballyhoo will get the dolphin’s attention, and skirt color hardly matters when they’re this hungry.

There are still good numbers of wahoo around, although most boats are focusing on the dolphin. Ballyhoo beneath pink/white and blue/white Jag lures will attract strikes from the wahoo.

 

Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching some spanish mackerel and a lot of bluefish on Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with some whiting at night on shrimp.

Some flounder are also falling for live baits.