Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – August 2022
Nick, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that inshore anglers have been finding red drum action back in the marshes. Good-sized bait has been moving around and keeping these fish active.
Black drum and sheepshead have been feeding well around the bridges and Port Wall area.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught while trolling out along the beaches, with quite a few numbers being caught inside the inlet as well. With so much strong wind, plenty of anglers have been working these deeper inside areas.
The spanish and bluefish action remains strong along the beachfronts.
King mackerel are scattered in this nearshore action, especially for anglers fishing live baits while targeting the bigger spanish mackerel.
Inshore anglers will continue to see a strong red drum bite, as well as sheepshead, black drum, and scattered speckled trout.
Bobby and Susan Jarvis caught this 13 lb. chopper bluefish on live menhaden at AR-320. They were fishing with Capt. Lee Winkman of Top Gun Fishing.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that inshore anglers have found the sound to be holding a lot of good bait right now, with no shortage of menhaden, shrimp, and crabs. With all this bait, the red drum are scattered just about everywhere and are heavily feeding. Anglers are having success targeting marsh points, flats, and edges, with action coming off of live bait, cut bait, and artificials.
Out around Cedar Point and up into the river, anglers are already starting to catch a few citation class red drum. This bite will only get better moving into early fall.
Fishing around inshore bridges and structures is producing good-sized sheepshead and black drum.
Nearshore action continues to be strong, with live bait finding large spanish mackerel and scattered kings, and the nearshore wrecks have been holding good numbers of triggerfish and flounder.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore spanish mackerel fishing has been really good when catching a window to get off the beach. The larger spanish are being caught while drifting or slow-trolling live pogies and finger mullet. Casting metal jigs to surface-feeding schools has also been a very successful tactic.
Inshore anglers are seeing a steady red drum bite. Floating cut baits or live shrimp under popping corks, and even topwater plugs under the right conditions, are all getting strikes.
Larger speckled trout are mixed in this inshore action, a pleasant surprise for summer anglers.
Flounder, though not in season yet, are also around in strong numbers, and they’re feeding on bottom-rigged live baits or artificials.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that with the typical mid- to late-summer weather patterns, fishing has slowed a bit as the southwest winds have been howling and keeping many anglers nearshore or inshore.
Most of the inshore fishing action has been targeting redfish, with a small mix of black drum, sheepshead, and speckled trout around. Anglers seeking refuge from the winds are fishing the ICW, mainland creeks, and marsh bays with live or cut baits.
Targeting deeper areas around the inlets and just off the beach, there are decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish being caught by both casting jigs and trolling spoons.
When the weather allows, nearshore ARs have had good numbers of large spanish mackerel and a few kings around, mostly being caught on live mullet or (smaller) shad.
Bottom fishing in the 70-125’ range has been steady for all the typical summertime species. Good-sized black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, porgies, gag grouper, and amberjacks are included in the mixed bottom action.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that anglers have found some tough conditions, seeing relentless winds and wet weather patterns, but despite this there was an excellent wahoo bite during the king tide and recent moon cycle lasting right through the middle of the month.
As is tradition, the two recreational American Red snapper season days were not fishable for the majority of anglers, but this has not kept bottom fishing action from being very strong for anglers running deep (80-100+’) when current and weather has allowed. Moving into August, expect strong bottom fishing action to continue.
Evan Calabria (age 16) caught this 25″ red drum on a menhaden in the Harkers Island area.
Woody, of Rigged Right Charters, reports that weather patterns have been extremely unfavorable over the past couple weeks for anglers looking to get offshore on the water. Despite that, a stabilizing pattern in the coming weeks will bring in plenty of action.
Running offshore, anglers will find some gaffer-sized mahi mixed in with peanuts under areas of grass while trolling or pitching baits.
Tuna fishing has slowed down a little around the ledge, but they are still being caught while both trolling and jigging.
King mackerel are scattered just about anywhere from the beaches on out. Anglers are having success with anything from Big Nic Mac-A-Hoo dead bait rigs to a free-lined live ringtails or pinfish.
The bigger ARs and reefs are holding plenty of amberjacks, barracudas, and sharks.
Bottom fishing remains on fire, with vermilion snapper schooled up very well, and they’re alongside large black sea bass, grunts, and porgies.
Grouper are also biting well while fishing slow pitch jigs, bucktails, and live baits.
Jessica, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been providing most of the recent action. Catches of sea mullet, black drum, pompano, and scattered red drum have all been keeping anglers busy in this summer heat.
A few sheepshead are being hooked by anglers fishing tight to the pilings.
Some speckled trout have been caught, and anglers hope that after this run of rough winds, the trout bite could improve more.
