Swansboro October 1, 2009
James Boots, of Swansboro, with a gag grouper he hooked at some bottom structure in 70' 15 miles off Bogue Inlet.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been on in the ICW and the sound, and anglers can expect the trout fishing to heat up in the creeks as well after a few days without rain. Live shrimp under popping corks are the best bets for the specks, and the action’s been the strongest around oyster rocks at high tide and marsh cuts when the water’s lower.
The red drum bite’s still solid in the marshes, though it’s tough to find big schools of the fish. Anglers have been hooking good numbers of reds on topwater plugs in the mornings, then going to Gulps or live baits with success once the surface action slows down.
Many of the reds are moving into the deeper areas near the inlets. Finger mullet or 4” white Gulp baits will fool the fish, but it’s been too rough to get to them lately. Anglers may need to fish from shore in order to cast to the fish in the rough water.
Flounder are still feeding in the channels and around structure, and the cooler weather should begin pushing the fish back into the creeks. Live baits or Gulps will fool the flatties into striking.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are chasing bait just off the inlet, and anglers can hook them on small Stingsilvers, diamond jigs, soft plastics, and other lures that resemble the glass minnows they’re eating.
Mike LaVecchia, of Jacksonville, with a 15 lb. gag grouper caught 10 miles off New River Inlet on a diamond jig while he was fishing on the "Reel MCS."
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that bait (mullet, pogies, and glass minnows) is thick in the ICW and the inlet connecting channels.
Anglers can catch shrimp in the entrance to the mainland creeks off the ICW and White Oak River. Live shrimp under popping corks are producing action with black drum and speckled trout around oyster beds, eddies or current rips off the marsh points, and the channel drop-offs.
Big bluefish are feeding in the current breaks around sand and grass flats near the inlets, and anglers can draw explosive strikes from the blues on topwater plugs.
Flounder are still feeding well inshore and nearshore in the ocean. Inshore, Gulp pogies on jigheads are producing most of the flatfish action.
Off the beaches, anglers are hooking up with the flatties while jigging bucktails tipped with Gulp shrimp around ledges, live bottoms, and wrecks.
Michael McElhone, Marina Manager at MCAS New River, with a fat false albacore that fell for a skirted cigar minnow at AR-362 out of Topsail.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout and red drum in the marshes around oyster bars and grass edges. Live baits, topwater plugs, and other lures will fool the fish.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are feeding near the inlets, but they can be finicky and hard to hook.
Some kings (mostly 8-12 lb. class) are feeding nearshore as well, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits like mullet or pogies.
Leslie Whitford, of Morehead City, with a big gray trout that fell for a spec rig tipped with shrimp in Beaufort Inlet.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching good numbers of spot and some fat pompano. The spot are falling for bloodworms and shrimp, and sand fleas and shrimp are fooling the pomps.
Some fat spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the surf zone as well, and gold casting spoons are fooling both. Anglers are also hooking up with the bluefish on cut baits and finger mullet.
The red drum bite is still solid in the sound, where anglers are finding action while casting live baits, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and topwater plugs.
Wanda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of spot and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish have been falling for Gotcha plugs when the water’s clear.
Anglers picked up a few flounder last week as well.
