Morehead/Atlantic Beach – June 2024
Hank, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that surf anglers have been seeing action with red drum, black drum, and pompano while bottom fishing.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are moving in close and are able to be caught from shore and the local piers with casting jigs.
Anglers are catching cobia while bottom fishing live or dead menhaden and sight-casting bucktails.
Trolling spoons has produced plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish, and some Atlantic bonito are still hanging around the ARs.
Offshore anglers have been catching blue marlin and some mahi.
Grouper fishing remains strong out on the deeper structures.
Inshore anglers are picking away at red drum and speckled trout. Both species are scattered in their summer patterns but should readily feed on live baits or topwaters.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that some cobia are being caught with both sight-fishing and bait soaking tactics.
Bottom fishing has been good for anglers running out to that 80’ area in search of grouper and vermilion snapper.
When out in the 60-80’ depths, have a free-lined bait out for a king that might be in the area.
Spanish mackerel are all around the area. Trolling spoons will put numbers in the boat, with some anglers looking for those fish on top.
Bluefish are getting thick, with most being quality fish in the 3-6+ lb. range A bunch are hitting topwater plugs out on the shoals.
Grass flats just inside the inlets are holding larger bluefish and red drum. The reds aren’t super consistent, but topwater lures, gold spoons, and soft plastics with 1/8 oz. jig heads are producing.
Topwater plugs are also finding some speckled trout when fishing around grass beds.
Capt. George Beckwith and Capt. Matt Deaton caught this 50 lb. cobia while sight fishing near Cape Lookout using a bucktail. They were fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have shown up along the beaches in good numbers. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting small metal jigs or spec rigs will fill the cooler.
Cobia are being spotted around bait balls for anglers looking to sight cast. When the conditions don’t allow, live bait fishing can also entice a strike.
Inshore anglers are seeing red drum mostly moved into their summertime pattern and being spread out. Topwater plugs make a great choice for getting in on this action.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that cobia are being found while bait fishing around the inlets and shoals with live or dead shad. Another favorite tactic is to sight cast bucktails around turtles or watch for free swimming fish.
Other nearshore targets have included bluefish (of all sizes), spanish mackerel, and bonito.
A few unpredictable encounters with schools of citation-class red drum (to 50”) have happened, mostly over on the east side of the shoals.
Gray trout are staged up around the ARs, inlets, and deeper inshore holes.
The shallow water gag grouper bite (less than 120’) has been a bit slower than normal, likely due to a cold-water push from February-April. Dropping in depths greater than 120’ has seen action that is more consistent to normal, with plenty of other bottom species in the mix.
Anglers have been able to find good action offshore for dolphin, billfish, and the stray tuna (both blackfin and yellowfin).
Back inshore, there is an improved bite for slot-sized red drum and speckled trout in the ICW and backwater creeks. If an angler prefers to not use live or natural cut baits, then proper presentations of Vudu shrimp or other soft plastics will entice strikes.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that mahi fishing has been good, with action all the way out in the 30-fathom area. Tactics are the usual for late spring, pull ballyhoo along weed lines and temperature breaks.
Bottom fishing is seeing the standard mixed bag of grouper, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Nearshore anglers are finding plenty of spanish mackerel, with the occasional Atlantic bonito still around.
The summertime kings are moving towards the beaches and are staging up over rocks and wrecks.
Anglers are catching some cobia when they can ride the beach and sight cast jigs.
Inshore trips have been seeing a great red drum bite. Most are slot-sized fish.
Big speckled trout are mixed in the inshore action. For both the trout and reds, live bait is key.
Evan Calabria, of Raleigh, found this chopper blue in the surf off of Cape Lookout using cut mullet.
Tyler, of Drumroll Charters, reports that good-sized red drum (to 25”) are moving around in the creeks and estuaries. Cut baits have been producing the most action, but soft plastics can have success.
Speckled trout are scattered in the creeks. Not many are being caught, but it’s a quality class of 20” fish.
A lot of flounder are around, and they’re readily hitting any soft plastic or live bait thrown on the bottom.
Sheepshead action is picking up as these fish push back inshore and set up around structure. Live fiddler crabs and sand fleas provide the best action.
Nearshore anglers have found the spanish mackerel bite to be fantastic. Spoons pulled behind planers, as well as casting jigs, are getting strikes.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that the trolling bite has been a bit slow out on the break. Anglers are finding the right water and weed line conditions, but fish are just not home yet, other than some mahi and wahoo being caught.
Bottom fishing, on the other hand, has been spectacular. Plenty of larger black sea bass in the 80’ area are being landed, and the deeper 100-200’ bottoms are holding good numbers of grouper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that anglers are starting to see mahi showing up. The action so far is hit or miss, and it’s all about finding the right weed lines in 150-200’+.
The blue marlin bite is setting up for another phenomenal year, with plenty of blues already being caught.
A handful of wahoo are hanging around.
The bottom fishing bite has triggerfish and vermilion snapper being plentiful in the 100’+ range.
