Morehead City April 25, 2013
Billy Rape, of Marshville, NC, with a citation 2 lb., 8 oz. pompano that bit fresh shrimp while he was surf fishing in Salter Path. Weighed in at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still connecting with sea mullet and gray trout in Beaufort Inlet and inshore around the turning basin and railroad tracks. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp will fool both bottom feeders, and anglers can also tempt the grays to bite Stingsilvers and other jigging lures.
Speckled trout and some puppy drum are feeding in Core Creek, South River, and many of the other creeks off the Neuse River. Live mud minnows and shrimp are doing most of the damage on both right now, but some anglers are also working MirrOlure MR17’s with success. A few black drum are in the same areas and taking an interest in live and fresh shrimp.
Surf and pier anglers are connecting with some large chopper bluefish (to 12+ lbs.) right now, with most falling for cut mullet. Black and red drum, sea mullet, and sheepshead are also feeding along the shoreline, with Oceanana Pier and the Fort Macon rocks particular hotspots lately. Shrimp will fool all the bottom feeders along the beachfront.
Flounder have begun to show up at wrecks and ledges off the Crystal Coast, but it’s still a bit early for the bite to get hot, especially at closer-to-shore spots like AR-315. Targeting structure in slightly deeper water is a better idea right now, and 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are the way to go for the ocean flatfish.
Not many reports of Atlantic bonito or false albacore have come in yet, but they’ll likely be feeding at much of the same structure where anglers are looking for flatfish in the coming weeks.
Not much has changed offshore, as the wind has kept boats at the dock on most recent days. When they’ve made it out, there has been some decent wahoo and blackfin tuna action.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some chopper bluefish from Oceanana Pier (to 12 lbs.), with some smaller blues feeding along the beachfront. Both metal casting lures and cut baits are fooling the big blues.
Mike Whitley, of Croatan, NC, with 7 lb. black drum and bluefish the he hooked off Oceanana Pier on shrimp and cut mullet. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Sea mullet and black drum are still feeding around the pier and along the beachfront, and both are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs.
The sea mullet are also active in Beaufort Inlet and the turning basin, where spec rigs tipped with shrimp will produce plenty of action.
Anglers are connecting with some red drum in the local creeks, and a few along the beachfront. A wide variety of lures and baits will fool the reds inshore, and cut baits or shrimp are some of the best bets in the surf.
Offshore boats have been battling the weather, but the fishing’s been good when they can make it out. Decent numbers of yellowfin tuna and some dolphin have shown up alongside the blackfin tuna and wahoo that have been biting all year. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures will fool all the Gulf Stream pelagics.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that Morehead City boats found some solid fishing when they were able to get offshore last week. Yellowfin tuna made a much-anticipated appearance, along with some of the year’s first dolphin.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are still on the feed in the blue water as well, and all are taking an interest in ballyhoo under sea witch-style skirts.
The best offshore action with all four species last week was slightly to the north of the Big Rock.
John, of Oceanana Pier, reports that some chopper bluefish (many 10+ lbs.) have been coming over the rails recently. Sea mullet, pufferfish, puppy drum, black drum (one 8 lbs.), and a sheepshead were also landed from the pier last week. Shrimp on double-drop bottom rigs have been producing most of the action.
