Morehead – April 9, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that fishing is finally coming around after a long winter along the Crystal Coast, and it should improve further with every week of warming water temperatures.
Sea mullet have shown up in the turning basin and along the port wall, and anglers are catching increasing numbers by the day. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp and Fish Bites are producing the majority of the mullet, along with some croaker.
Tim Gower, of Wake Forest, NC, with an Atlantic bonito he hooked while sight-casting to mixed schools of bonito and false albacore in 65′ of water on the east side of Cape Lookout. He was fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Some schools of red drum are feeding in the creeks and around the Haystacks marshes, but it’s been tough to fool them with artificials lately. Live mud minnows have been a better bet for anglers looking to hook the fish they spot.
Donald Powell, of Burlington, NC, with a 25″ red drum that he hooked on a chunk of shrimp pinned to a Carolina rig in the surf at Ft. Macon.
Schools of larger reds are working around Shark Island off Cape Lookout, and anglers who spot them can toss bucktail jigs or other heavy lures to tempt them to bite.
Pier and surf bottom fishermen are seeing the bite pick up a bit as well, though it’ll take a few more weeks of warmer water to kick things into high gear. Pufferfish, dogfish, and red drum have been producing most of the action lately, and the sea mullet bite should be getting good soon as well. Shrimp, squid, and cut baits are fooling the fish in the surf zone.
Offshore anglers are reporting some solid blue water action around the Big Rock and other spots in the 50 mile range. Wahoo have been making up most of the catch (including a 100+ lb. fish last week), but boats are also boxing up some healthy blackfin tuna. Commercial boats are also seeing some dolphin, and they’ll be showing up in greater numbers over the coming weeks. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling the blue water predators.
Bottom fishing offshore has also been productive lately, with the best action 30-40 miles out around spots like the 14 Buoy, 240 Rock, 1700 Rock, and Atlas Tanker. Triggerfish, black sea bass, beeliners, and other tasty bottom dwellers are all taking an interest in baits pinned to circle hooks around structure in those areas.
A few snowy grouper have been landed around deeper structure recently as well. Squid, cigar minnows, and mackerel have been producing most of the action with the bottom feeders.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that pufferfish have arrived for anglers fishing from the beachfront, pier, and inshore around the turning basin. Some sea mullet, pigfish, pinfish, and croaker are feeding in the same areas, and all the panfish will pounce on shrimp or bloodworms pinned to small hooks on double-drop bottom rigs.
Some slot and over-slot red drum have been schooled up around Shark Island over the past week, and they are presenting good sight-casting opportunities to anglers who find the schools. Bucktail jigs, spoons, and other lures will tempt bites from the reds.
False albacore are schooled up off Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout, but they’re still a bit further offshore than most anglers want to travel. They’ll be moving closer in and mixing with Atlantic bonito as the month wears on. Both of the speedy fish will taking an interest in small metal casting jigs worked around fish feeding on the surface.
Bottom fishermen have been reporting limit catches of black sea bass while dropping baits and jigs to structure in the vicinity of the Northwest Places.
Anglers running further offshore are reporting decent wahoo action along with some of the first dolphin of the year.
Inshore, anglers are finding some excellent speckled trout fishing in the creeks, but the bite can be hit-or-miss.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that false albacore and some Atlantic bonito are schooled up and feeding on the surface off Cape Lookout Shoals. Casting metal jigs in 65’ of water produced plenty of action with both last week.
Bottom structure in the same range is playing host to decent numbers of legal black sea bass, and they’ll bite baited bottom rigs or metal jigs worked over the structure.
Bluefish have also shown up around Lookout and will only become more numerous in the coming weeks.
Some large red drum are feeding a bit closer to the beach, so anglers should keep an eye out for the schools along the shoals and be prepared to toss a bucktail jig or other lure to any fish they see.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing, reports that anglers are connecting with decent numbers of wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling the break off Beaufort Inlet. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the fish.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the water is 61-63 degrees inshore and panfish have shown up around the port wall and turning basin. Dropping spec and bottom rigs in those areas is producing fast action with pufferfish, sea mullet, silver perch, gray trout, and more.
The ocean water is still around 57 degrees, so the better bite has been inshore this week.
Hailey, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing from the planks are landing sea mullet, spot, and a few pufferfish.
Several bluefish were also caught last week.
