Added on Thursday, June 12, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City June 12, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that fishing for big flounder is getting hot along the port wall. Anglers fishing mud minnows on Carolina rigs close to the wall are hooking up with some doormats (some up to 9 lbs.).

The Haystacks have also been producing some flounder, mostly while anglers are fishing for reds and trout with mud minnows or Gulp baits under popping corks.

Drum and trout action has also been hot around Core Creek Bridge recently, and mud minnows and Gulps have been effective there as well.

Jigging around the railroad tracks and Atlantic Beach Bridge has been producing good numbers of gray trout lately. Stingsilvers have been the hot lure at the tracks, and anglers are catching them under the bridge on green grubs and Tsunami glass minnows.

Surf anglers are hooking up with black drum and some flounder, bluefish, and pompano. Shrimp and cut baits will produce results in the breakers.

Spanish mackerel and blues are still feeding heavily around the inlet and along the beaches. Boats are scoring with them while trolling Drones and Clarkspoons.

Anglers are hooking up with some cobia around Shackleford and in the hook. Pogies still aren’t too easy to find, so most anglers are using frozen mullet.

AR-315 and 320 are producing good numbers of flounder for anglers bottom fishing with mud minnows, and boats are also finding some larger spanish around the reefs.

Decent numbers of school-sized kings are feeding around the Big 10/Little 10, and most anglers are hooking up while trolling cigar minnows.

Bottom fishing in the same area is producing some grouper and large sea bass.

The 1700 Rock and other spots on the east side of the shoals are holding some kings as well, and anglers bottom dropping with jigs and bait are also landing good numbers of legal gag grouper.

The dolphin bite has been fantastic lately, with some large fish coming from the 90′ Drop. The action has been hot between the Drop and the Big Rock, and most of the ‘phins are falling for skirted ballyhoo.

 

Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the hot dolphin bite offshore is the biggest story in the area. The best fishing has been inshore of the Big Rock, with boats reporting good numbers of gaffers around the 14 Buoy and inshore. Ballyhoo under skirted lures are fooling most of the fish.

Anglers are also catching some gaffers mixed in with king mackerel around the NW Places. Cigar minnows have been getting attention from both fish. Some snake kings are also feeding around AR-315 and 320.

Spanish mackerel are still chasing bait up and down the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons or bird rigs should attract their attention.

It seems early, but several schools of tarpon have already been seen moving towards Cape Lookout as well.

Cobia action has been slowing down inside, with boats seeing some fish on the move but reluctant to bite. Better cobia reports have been coming from the AR’s and spots further offshore.

Speckled trout fishing remains solid inshore (with some stout fish up to 7 lbs. weighed last week). The best action has been at night around lighted docks, when anglers are hooking up while casting Gulp baits, Bass Assassins, and mud minnows.

The marshes of the Newport River have been giving up good numbers of specks as well as some red drum. New Penny Gulp shrimp are attracting attention from both fish.

The flounder bite has been very good at AR-315, and anglers are also catching some nice flatties in shallow water in the North River. Live mud minnows will produce results on the flounder.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that the early summer’s tremendous dolphin fishing continues. The action lately has moved inshore of the Big Rock with an excellent bite around rips and weedlines in 20-25 fathoms over the past week. Sea Witches and Mini Jags over ballyhoo are fooling the fish, and the color hardly seems to matter. Some wahoo and a few sailfish are feeding alongside the dolphin.

Out deeper toward the 100 fathom line, the blue marlin bite has been hot for the past two weeks.

 

Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing a mixed bag of whiting, spot, pigfish, and croakers. Shrimp are top baits.

Some flounder have also come over the rails recently.

The water is still a little dirty for spanish, but plug casters are catching bluefish early in the mornings.