Morehead City April 15, 2005
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Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and Tackle, reports that yellowfins of various sizes are being caught primarily at the Swansboro Hole and the area south of there. There’s been lots of blackfin tunas mixed in, with two weighing in at 27 lbs. and 28 lbs. There’s been more blackfins than he’s seen in a number of years. There’s also been a number of wahoo caught, with lots of cut-offs because guys are trolling for tuna with mono.
Some grouper have started moving in. Bottom fishermen are also catching big black sea bass. They’re fishing the mid-range spots in 70’ to 120’ of water. Start at the Big Ten, Little ten and go out from there.
Inshore has seen some drum and trout in the marshes and creeks (try the Hay Stacks). Gray trout are starting to bite. A few were picked up off the Cape Lookout rock jetties and the Dead Tree Hole. Guys are using sting silvers, Sea Striker jig fish, and Betts speck rigs. Sea mullet are also at the Dead Tree Hole (use a speck rig with a tip of shrimp). Blues have been caught in the surf and the inlet.
Lynn and George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, report that offshore has seen catches of yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and kings. The yellowfins are running about 30 to 55 lbs. The wahoo have been starting at 45 lbs. and going up. The areas producing well have been Big Rock, Swansboro Hole, and the 90 Foot Drop.
Bottom fishing has included some snappers, groupers, and black sea bass. The head boats have been working the wrecks and structures in the 15-30 mile range.
Small bluefish have been sporadically running in the surf, and the sea mullet are just beginning.
Red drum and black drum are slow but biting in the marshes on minnows and artificials.
Doug and Marty, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, report that yellowfins, wahoo, and some kings are being caught at Big Rock and the Swansboro Hole. Just look for a temperature break. The wahoo bite is better than the tuna bite some days. For sea witches, try pink/chartreuse and chartreuse/darker green. For cedar plugs, try natural color and blue/white.
A few Atlantic bonito were spotted at AR 315.
The water has been about 60 degrees on the surf, and anglers are picking up some sea mullet, puffers, and the bluefish are all over. There’s been a few gray trout caught off the Cape Lookout jetty. They also had a report of a lone spanish mackerel caught off of Bogue Inlet Pier last weekend, and then the same guy caught a lone spanish this past week off of Triple “S” Pier.
Larry, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that sea mullets are starting to bite. The best action has been coming with moving water and late afternoons or evenings. Guys are fishing half way down the pier out to the end using shrimp. Some blues are mixed in, and they’ve also been hooking puffers.
Ken, at Triple “S” Pier, reports that small blues (1/4 to 3/4 lbs.) are being caught a few hours before high tide and a few hours after the high tide. The sea mullet (weighing up to 1 lb. 3 oz.) are being caught mostly on high tide. The pier’s also been picking up a couple of croakers and an occasional puffer. There’s been lots of dogfish, with the bigger ones caught at night. Blues are running well in the surf, and the water is full of bait.
