Morehead City November 12, 2009
Mike and Michael Mann, from Morehead City, with an 84 lb. cobia they hooked on a dead pogy while bottom fishing 30 miles off Beaufort Inlet in 100' of water.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the fall weather has the speckled trout bite on in full force. Anglers are finding consistent action with the specks in the Haystacks, the Newport River marshes, in Core Creek, around Radio Island, and a few are beginning to feed around the Cape Lookout rock jetty. Live shrimp are prime baits for the specks wherever they are, and anglers are also hooking good numbers of fish on Gulp baits, MirrOlures, green grubs, and other soft plastics. Some black and red drum are mixed in with the trout.
The flounder bite is still on around the port wall, and anglers who can find live finger mullet have been hauling up some doormats from the deep water along the wall lately. Anglers are also catching some flatties on live baits around AR-315.
Some fat gray trout are also feeding in the deep water around the port wall, the turning basin, and the railroad tracks. Cut mullet, live shrimp, spec rigs, and Stingsilvers have all been attracting attention from them lately. The grays are also feeding around the Lookout jetty, and anglers have been catching big numbers (and big fish) around the jetty on live shrimp while speck fishing.
There are still some spot and other bottom feeders (like pigfish) feeding around the turning basin and Beaufort. Bloodworms on bottom rigs have been producing the most action with them.
Whiting are feeding in the inlet, the turning basin, along the shipping channel, and at the Dead Tree Hole in the ocean. Shrimp on bottom and spec rigs will attract attention from the whiting.
The spanish mackerel have moved on from the area for the most part, but anglers are still catching a few large spaniards while live-baiting around Lookout Shoals.
King mackerel are feeding around the shoals, at the Dead Tree Hole, and at other nearshore spots on the west side of the shoals. Boats are also finding some action with big kings around the wrecks and other structure east of the shoals. Live pogies or bluefish will produce action with the larger fish, and dead cigar minnows should attract attention from the schoolies.
Bottom fishermen have found excellent sea bass action along with a few gag grouper at structure around the Northwest Places and the 210 and 240 Rocks. Squid will produce action with the bass, and anglers can hook the grouper on cigar minnows or live baits.
Carter Lewis, of Morehead City, with a false albacore he hooked off Shackleford Banks on a soft plastic bait.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have found an excellent black drum and whiting bite around Fort Macon while baiting up with shrimp. Big numbers of small flounder have been in the mix as well.
The trout bite is just getting started around the Lookout rock jetty, with the best action so far in the early morning and evening hours. Live shrimp are producing most of the specks.
False albacore are chasing bait from the shoals west along the beaches. Anglers can hook up with them on fly rods, soft plastics, or a variety of metal casting lures from boats and the beach when they are busting bait along the shoreline.
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Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the false albacore bite has been on fire lately around Cape Lookout. Anglers are hooking up with the falsies by casting to surface-feeding schools with soft plastic baits and flies.
The speckled trout bite is cranking up, and it should be on for the next month or more. The specks will fall for a variety of soft plastic baits and hard baits like MirrOlures and Rapalas. Right now the action is best in the marshes and around inshore structure, but the fish are on the move. And as the weather cools, the Lookout rock jetty will become the focal point of the speck action.
Some fat flounder are feeding in the surf after having moved out of the sounds, and anglers can hook them on live and dead baits.
Kyle White, of Newport, NC, with a 54 lb. cobia he hooked on a live pogy on the east side of Cape Lookout while fishing with Chris Allen.
Shane, of Fight-N-Lady, reports that the blue water fishing has picked up, and boats are landing decent numbers of wahoo while trolling the Gulf Stream. The best action has been to the south of the area around the 380-400’s, with most bites coming in 38-55 fathoms. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Witches and Mini-Jags are drawing most of the attention.
There’s been a good sailfish bite in the same area, and boats are frequently getting a few shots at the sails per day while wahoo fishing.
Inshore, the king mackerel bite has been excellent within 15-20 miles of the beaches, and sea witch/strip bait combinations are proving too much for the kings to resist.
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Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the sea mullet bite has been good for anglers bottom fishing with shrimp from the pier lately.
Some bluefish are also falling for the bottom rigs, and plug casters are hooking up with the blues and false albacore that are chasing bait in the area.
