Morehead City – April 28, 2016
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are still connecting with plenty of sea mullet and pufferfish. The bluefish have also begun to show up in good numbers, and the large chopper bluefish shouldn’t be far behind. Bottom fishing in the surf zone has also been producing some great black drum, with a monster 65 lb. fish weighed in last week. Bottom rigs with large circle hooks baited with shrimp or crab are key to catching these heavyweight fish.
Sea mullet, pufferfish, croakers, and gray trout are still being caught in the turning basin, Coast Guard station, and port wall. Bottom rigs like the local’s favorite Sam’s Glitters tipped with fresh shrimp or Fishbites are producing plenty of action with the bottom feeders. The gray trout are congregated around the AB high-rise bridge and will bite just about anything, but the best action comes on metal jigs like Stingsilvers or diamond jigs.
Local marshes and bays are still providing anglers with consistent opportunities to connect with red drum, speckled trout, black drum, and even some smaller flounder. Most of the action is in mainland creeks and marshes on the other side of the Highway 70 Bridge.
The spring run of cobia hasn’t begun yet, but with the water at 63 degrees at AR330, it shouldn’t be long before anglers start spotting them.
Offshore, bluewater anglers are reporting catches of wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjack, and some dolphin. Tolling naked or skirted ballyhoo is the most universal way of targeting offshore species, but large live baits like bluefish will produce bites from some large wahoo.
Connie Wolf, from Morehead City, with a 65 lb. black drum she caught on the Ocenana Pier on 10 lb. test.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the area’s black drum bite has been excellent recently with the majority of the fish in the 5-10 lb. range but plenty of fish in the 15-20 lb. range as well. Carolina rigs with fresh shrimp or crabs fished near ICW docks and bridges are producing the majority of the fish, but anglers can also connect with them using live shrimp under a popping cork.
Sea mullet are still being caught in the turning basin and are schooled up from the #25 buoy to the #18 buoy.
Surf anglers are catching some mid to upper-slot red drum in the sloughs just past the breakers. The majority of the fish are congregated near the inlet and large sandbars. Mixed in with these reds are some black drum, and both can be caught using bottom rigs baited with shrimp on 3/0 and larger circle hooks.
Atlantic bonito are beginning to make their spring appearance with a few schools of fish in the 5 mile range. Mixed in with the bonito are some bluefish and the occasional spanish mackerel. Trolling metal lures such as size #0 Clarkspoons behind #1 planers or 2-4 oz. trolling weights will put fish in the boat. While the blues and spanish don’t seem to care about the color of the lure, bonito prefer the pink or green flash Clarkspoons.
Chuck Carston with a 12 lb. bluefish he caught at Fort Macon while fishing bait shrimp on bottom.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that there has been some steady action inshore with the red drum; however, the schools are beginning to split up and spread out in the marsh. The Haystacks and Middle Marsh are holding plenty of fish interested in topwater lures like the Heddon Super Spook or Rapala X-Rap. Pelletier Creek and Broad Creek off of Highway 24 are also holding reds. These creek mouth fish are holding deeper in the water column and can be best targeted using soft plastics like Texas Tackle Factory Hackberry Hustler and the Strike Pro Redfish Spinner. There are some speckled trout mixed in with the reds, and they can be caught using the same tactics.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are finding some steady flounder action offshore. The majority of the fish are coming from areas in the 70-85’ range. Anglers looking to target the oceanic flatfish should use bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp shrimp. The flounder will be holding just off of the structure on the sandy bottom.
Bottom fishing further offshore in the 85-100’ range continues to be great with some large black sea bass caught recently. Mixed in with the bass are beeliners, triggerfish, and some amberjack. Bucktails and other bottom rigs (such as fish finder rigs or Bluewater Candy Roscoe Jigs) can be baited with squid, cut mullet, or cigar minnows and will put plenty of fish in the boat.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing Charters, reports that the dolphin fishing has really improved over the last week, and anglers are finding some steady action just past the break. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are also being caught alongside the dolphin using naked ballyhoo or jet head type lures. Blue and white Iland Sailure Flashers are also producing plenty of bites when paired with ballyhoo.
Some large wahoo have also be caught recently. Anglers looking to connect with these speedy bluewater heavyweights need to scale up their lures and remember to use wire. Trolling ballyhoo will put plenty of fish in the boat, but live bluefish can produce huge wahoo when nothing else is working.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching some black drum, bluefish, sea mullet, blowfish, and skates. The water is 63 degrees.
