Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – August 2021
Mickey, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that inshore fishing in the area is in full summer swing, with fish species scattered just about everywhere.
Red drum and the occasional speckled trout are being found from shallow flats to channels inside the inlet. Both species are hitting a variety of topwater plugs, soft plastics, spoons, and live/cut bait options.
Black drum and sheepshead are plentiful inshore and holding tight to areas of structure. The “shelled” baits (crabs and shrimp) have been producing strikes from both.
Flounder are being caught by anglers fishing live baits and soft plastics on bottoms with nearby structure.
Nearshore anglers are seeing good action from spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore.
Trolling efforts a little further off the beach are producing some good-sized king mackerel (up to 40+ lbs.).
Anglers running offshore to the Stream have been finding some decent numbers of billfish, scattered yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.
Good numbers of mahi are around the break, with scattered numbers of fish pushed inshore.
Bottom fishing the deeper structures has been producing beeliners, triggerfish, and large black sea bass.
Towards the end of the month, anglers anticipate seeing reports of citation-class red drum becoming more common in the sounds around Cedar Point and north on the Neuse River.
Sammie Guthrie (age 10) with a spanish mackerel that was caught on a Rapala jerkbait while fishing the surf in Atlantic Beach.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that speckled trout fishing has been good for summer, with quite a few large fish around. Most action has been from targeting flooded oyster beds and marsh edges.
Redfish action has been great, with the area seeing a class of upper-slot and larger reds feeding on the grass flats.
A mix of large sheepshead and black drum are staged up against deeper dock pilings, bridges, and sea walls. Both species are feeding on fiddler crabs and shrimp.
Nearshore anglers have been finding schools of spanish mackerel holding in deeper waters (around 30’) on recent trips.
Mixed schools of bluefish are pushing up bait balls around the shoals and nearshore wrecks.
Further out, anglers are finding amberjacks and kings around structure in the 60’+ range.
Cobia are scattered from these deeper structures in the ocean all the way in to deeper channels inshore.
Anglers staying on the sand are catching a mix of pompano, speckled trout, sea mullet, and big croakers. Days when the surf zone is churned up, puppy drum are being caught on cut baits.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that inshore anglers are finding steady red drum action in mainland creeks and out along the ICW. The slot-sized redfish are most actively feeding on Carolina-rigged cut shad or live finger mullet.
A few nice-sized speckled trout are being caught right alongside the red drum in the same creeks and structured ICW areas.
Up on the Pamlico Sound around the inlets and to the river mouths, anglers are starting to catch a few bull red drum as they push inshore.
Nearshore trolling action has been focused on the spanish mackerel bite. Clarkspoons under planers or behind trolling weights has been the most productive setup, but surface-feeding fish are also being fooled by casting jigs or spec rigs.
Larger spanish mackerel and kings are staged up around the nearshore ARs. Live bait has been the key to getting strikes, and they’re best rigged on #6 or #8 trebles with a light wire leader.
Offshore bottom fishing has been great. A solid mix of triggerfish, grunts, porgies, amberjacks, and grouper are all feeding well when weather has allowed anglers to make the run.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good for anglers getting on the water early or late (avoiding the heat of the day). There has been plenty of action while casting Breakday jigs to these surface-feeding schools. Once the sun gets too high, it has been pushing the bait deep (along with the schools of spanish).
King mackerel are scattered in the nearshore waters, though the action is a bit slower with the high water temperatures.
Nearshore wrecks and ledges are holding large barracuda, amberjack, and some cobia. Live bait has been producing strikes from all three species.
Corey Compton with a 32” redfish that was hooked using a 1/4 oz. spoon. He was fishing the point at Bogue Inlet.
Joey, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that billfish action has been good for anglers taking advantage of weather windows and running out to the Stream.
A variety of wahoo, scattered tuna, and larger gaffer dolphin are mixed in the trolling action.
Offshore bottom fishing is producing triggerfish and large beeliners.
Nearshore anglers are having plenty of success with nice-sized spanish mackerel.
Wayne, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been productive despite the warm summer water temperatures. A mix of sea mullet, black drum, and speckled trout are being caught with fresh shrimp or squid.
Carolina-rigged cut baits are producing scattered red drum.
Bluefish are hitting both casting jigs (when on the surface) and bottom-rigged baits.
