Morehead City – April 13, 2017
Nick, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that there are still some sea mullet in the turn basin, and they can be caught on cut shrimp.
Specs and red drum can be found in the marshes and creeks, and they are falling for MirrOlures, live bait, and soft plastics on jigheads. A few fish have also been landed on topwater.
The big Hatteras blues have moved into the area, off wrecks like AR-315, on the shoals at Cape Lookout, and around Shark Island. Anglers have been catching them on spoons and Stingsilvers. Topwaters are also working on the bigger blues.
The bottom fishing has been good nearshore, but the flounder have yet to show up at the nearshore wrecks.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are being caught in the Gulf Stream. Those trolling should be using ballyhoo with black/purple and red/black color combos.
John Schmidt with a 96 lb. wahoo landed near the Big Rock on ballyhoo using a Penn Squall 60LD. Photo courtesy of Chasin Tails Outdoors.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that sea mullet are still being caught off the piers on fresh shrimp. Bluefish have shown up, but they aren’t the big chopper blues. Those looking for the bigger Hatteras fish should target areas around Cape Lookout.
The tail end of pufferfish are still hanging around, and the pinfish have started to show up already.
The backwaters are holding smaller red drum, speckled trout, and gray trout.
Anglers in the Gulf have reported wahoo and blackfin tuna, as well as a scattering of mahi.
Capt. Joe Shute with a flounder caught off Morehead City in 75’ of water. He was fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the fishing is heating up. Speckled trout and flounder have been landed, both on Trout Tricks.
The false albacore have returned to the area, and they are taking casting jigs.
There are wahoo and blackfin being caught offshore. The blackfin are eating rigged ballyhoo.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that there are blues, both smaller and larger chopper fish, along with slot reds, around the Cape Lookout shoals. Use jigs and bucktails to connect with these fish.
Sea bass and flounder are off the beach in 60-70’ of water. Bucktails and typical bottom fishing bait rigs should work on both species.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that the wahoo and blackfin fishing has been good in the Stream. Ballyhoo on blue/white sea witches should tempt bites from both species.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing beeliners and triggerfish.
Wayne, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the sea mullet bite is strong during high tide. Most of the action on the pier is coming in the form of mullet, though there were a few puffers landed, too.
