Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – June 2022
Spencer, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that inshore anglers are starting to find better red drum action as water temperatures warm up. They are finding success targeting these pods of fish in skinny water areas of mainland creeks and marshy bays.
Some speckled trout are being caught by anglers fishing topwater plugs in the early mornings. Resident marsh areas such as the Haystacks are great places to start your trout efforts.
Just off the beach, bluefish are schooled up just about everywhere. From Beaufort Inlet out to the shoals off Cape Lookout, anglers are having plenty of success both trolling and casting to feeding frenzies.
More schools of spanish mackerel are showing in these same areas, and they’ll get even more plentiful moving into summer.
Bottom fishing at the nearshore ARs is producing gray trout and some black sea bass.
Cobia have started to arrive in the region. The most success has been found from anglers bottom fishing deeper areas around the area’s inlets. Hopefully, the migration numbers improve and more fish will be caught around bait off the beach and in the deep holes just inside the inlets.
Offshore anglers have been finding some good mahi action out around Big Rock. Trolling Sea Witch skirted ballyhoo along weed lines has generated most strikes, and running outside Big Rock has produced some billfish and larger wahoo.
Andrew Rodgers, of Cary, with two mahi that fell for ballyhoo in 100′ of water east of Cape Lookout. He was fishing with Capt. Woody Dishman of Rigged Right Charters.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that nearshore anglers have been finding good spanish mackerel action while working schools staged up from the beach out over nearshore structure.
Some bigger bluefish have also made a showing in the area.
King mackerel are moving their way closer to the beaches, and a few are being caught while trolling for spanish and blues.
Cobia started to show up right before the most recent NE front moved through. There were some large fish mixed in these first pods to migrate into the area. With the schools of pogies still moving into the area, anglers will find some cobia action while bottom fishing around the inlets with live pogies or bluefish. A few cobia will also be caught out on the local ARs.
Bottom fishing with smaller cut and live baits has produced plenty of black sea bass.
Some good-sized gray trout are being caught at the nearshore wrecks and back up in deeper holes through the Turning Basin.
Inshore anglers are seeing lots of bait moving around, and this has red drum action starting to spread out. Target these groups of fish around oyster rock structure and grass flats.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that inshore anglers are looking to stay on the good red drum action while fishing topwater plugs, cut baits, or white-colored Gulp shrimp under popping corks. Water temperatures rising have these reds spreading throughout the marsh systems.
Speckled trout have moved out of their cold-water holdover areas and are staged around creek mouths. Anglers on the water early in the morning have found the most trout bites.
Off the beach, some nice-sized spanish mackerel (with citations mixed in) are hitting live baits.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the nearshore ARs are holding good numbers of spanish, gray trout, and the occasional king mackerel. Live bait is a top choice with summer fishing moving in, but anglers will also still find plenty of success with casting jigs.
A few cobia have been showing up around Cape Lookout and Beaufort Inlet. Anglers have found most action to be while bottom fishing live or dead baits. As more fish migrate into the area, it begins to open opportunities for sight-casting.
Offshore bottom fishing remains steady, with mixed bags of vermilion snapper, gag grouper, triggerfish, and plenty more species.
A few large amberjacks, sharks, and big king mackerel are mixed in over these same offshore structures.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that red drum action has been strong throughout the sounds and inshore ICW areas. Most of these fish have moved out of the creeks by now and are spread out into smaller groups. Anglers are having plenty of success while fishing fresh cut baits. For those looking to scout new areas, use soft plastics on jig heads or under popping corks.
Flounder are mixed in with the inshore action.
The spanish mackerel bite has been strong off the beach. There have been plenty of good-sized fish around, and both casting jigs and trolling spoons are having their days of more successes.
Cobia started to show up. The bait balls of good-sized menhaden are around, so more cobia should be seen in the coming weeks.
Offshore anglers are finding great bottom fishing. Grouper season is now open, and amberjacks have moved in closer to the beach.
Gulf anglers are catching some good numbers of mahi out on the break while trolling ballyhoo under Sea Witch skirts.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that anglers have found gag grouper fishing to be one of the most consistent bites, especially in the 100-140’ range.
Offshore dolphin fishing has been good, and trolling action has also included some scattered wahoo action. Most of the larger dolphin have come from anglers fishing the 80-200’ range, sometimes deeper depending on the temperature breaks.
The deep-water bottom species opened their season this month. Anglers targeting the 60-80 fathom areas have found nice mixed bags of snowy grouper and blueline and golden tilefish.
Cobia have moved in along the beaches, along with good bait showing. Anglers will also find the cobia out on offshore reefs and ledges.
Woody, of Rigged Right Charters, reports that offshore anglers are finding mahi action picking up, as well as scattered wahoo. Soon there will be even more gaffer-sized dolphin hitting the docks.
The offshore bottom fishing bite remains on fire.
Kelly, of Oceanana Pier, reports that some good-sized spanish mackerel (to 5 lbs.) have been caught on Gotcha plugs. A few bluefish are also mixed in the sight-casting action.
Some sheepshead have been caught by anglers bottom fishing bait along the pilings.
