Pamlico April 14, 2011
Matt Carr with an 8 lb. striped bass he hooked in the Pamlico River on a soft plastic jerkbait while fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the lower Roanoke River striper bite has been sporadic as schools of fish make their way quickly from the Albemarle Sound upriver to Weldon to spawn. The best action has been for anglers casting shallow diving crankbaits and topwater lures around the stumps at the mouths of the Roanoke, Cashie, and Eastmost rivers in the early mornings. Trolling for the fish has been more productive in the afternoons. There’s also been a good bite around structure in the blackwater creeks off the lower rivers.
Upriver around Weldon the first schools of spawning fish have arrived (mostly small males to be followed quickly by the larger female fish), and 100+ fish days are not uncommon.
In the Pamlico system, anglers are finding improving mixed bag fishing in the creeks east of Washington off the Pamlico and Pungo rivers. Speckled trout, puppy drum, and scattered flounder are making up the majority of the catch, and anglers are fooling them primarily on soft plastics.
The striper bite is also good around Washington, Belhaven, and up the Tar River towards Grimesland. The fish are falling for a variety of baits, including trolled crankbaits, soft plastics, and fresh cut baits fished on the bottom.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers are putting together some nice catches of speckled trout in the backwaters of Pamlico County and in Cahooque Creek at Havelock. Topwater plugs and suspending lures like MirrOlure MR17s are producing the lion’s share of the action with the trout.
The striped bass bite is still going around the bridges and other structure near New Bern. Though most anglers have been hooking the fish on subsurface lures like Rat-L-Traps and soft plastics, the water has warmed to the point where good topwater action should be available as well.
Dr. Joe Newman, of New Bern, with a striped bass he hooked on a D.O.A. CAL shad tail while fishing the Neuse River above New Bern with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Dave, of Minnesott Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that there are still some excellent signs of speckled trout in the creeks (though most are small). Along with the specks, anglers are picking up a few flounder (with some 16-18” keepers) and puppy drum. Scented soft plastics like Gulp baits and suspending lures like MR17 MirrOlures are producing most of the action with all three fish. The water temperature is nearing the 70’s, and anglers will soon see the trout, pups, and reds moving out of the creeks and into the main river.
The striped bass bite has slowed a bit around New Bern, but the larger fish are just moving back downriver after spawning and should provide more action. Jigging 3-4” soft plastics or working wobblehead eels around bridges, drop-offs, and other structure is the best way to fool the stripers.
Richard, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that some flounder (including a few keepers), are showing up in Bath Creek and Pungo Creek. Gulp shrimp in pearl white are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
More and more bait is showing up around Swan Quarter, so it won’t be long until the mixed bag fishing there is in full spring swing.
The striped bass bite is still decent in the Pamlico River and Pungo Creek. Most anglers are connecting with the linesiders while jigging soft plastics or working suspending Rattlin’ Rogues around structure.
