Morehead City/Atlantic Beach – September 2022
Damion, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that inshore anglers have been catching plenty of red drum. The best pattern has been to target swamped marsh grasses on high tide, and then push back out to structure on falling and lower tide cycles.
A few good-sized speckled trout are also being caught alongside the redfish, and with the same artificial or live bait setups.
Flounder fishing is ramping up, and bottom-rigged live baits will entice some strikes from the inshore flatfish.
Targeting rocks, docks, and deeper bridge structure with live shrimp has been producing black drum and large sheepshead.
Nearshore anglers have seen spanish mackerel fishing starting to pick back up, as well as the bluefish bite, with seasonal wind switches cleaning up waters and dropping temperatures slightly.
Offshore anglers have started to see wahoo moving into the area, and this action only gets better as we move into fall.
Bottom fishing offshore remains strong, with anglers catching triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and a variety of other reef species.
Cameron Bailey caught (and released) this 29″ flounder on live finger mullet near the Port Wall area. He was fishing with Capt. Lee Winkleman of Top Gun Fishing.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that weather patterns that pushed in winds from the north really helped fire off the spanish mackerel and bluefish action along the beaches. Both casting jigs and live bait are enticing strikes.
King mackerel are still scattered in close, with anglers finding most action in the 5+ mile range.
The red drum bite has been excellent. Good-sized finger mullet and shrimp have these fish feeding consistently on inshore flats, marsh edges, and around oyster rocks.
Some speckled trout are mixed in the action, with most bites coming on topwater plugs fished over grass flats both early and late in the day, and anglers looking to add to their dinner fare are finding large croaker around deeper holes of the sound.
Up in Core Creek and into the sound around Cedar Island, trophy red drum action is picking up. Anglers can use good weather windows to scout ledges and look for bait and feeding bulls.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that groups of red drum have been staged up around oyster rocks or chasing shrimp on the grass edges. A popping cork setup with soft plastics or cut shad has enticed a few strikes.
On times of lighter winds, anglers are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel busting bait balls outside the inlet. Casting Stingsilvers and similar metal jigs at these feeding frenzies has been very productive. If wind conditions aren’t cooperating, anglers can pick away at fish while trolling Clarkspoon and planer setups.
Over September, the larger shrimp should begin moving out and speckled trout action will start heating up in the backwaters. This bite only gets better as water temperatures cool moving into fall.
Black drum also love feeding on these shrimp, and they become more plentiful moving forward, too.
Anglers look forward to finding keeper flatfish while targeting nearshore reefs, inshore ledges, docks, and/or around the Port Wall area.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the big news is bull red drum moving into the Pamlico Sound and lower Neuse River areas. The bait is plentiful in the area, so it just takes the right conditions to go hunt these trophy fish.
Red drum fishing in the backwaters has been solid, and it only gets better with larger baits moving around.
A few speckled trout are mixed in, but this action really picks up as water temperatures drop a bit.
Nearshore anglers are finding good sight-casting action for spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore, and fishing live baits has produced the larger spanish and scattered king mackerel.
Bottom fishing has been great and will pick up as water temperatures cool (especially the action for gag grouper).
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the trophy red drum fishing has kicked off in the area, from the sounds just about all the way up the Neuse River. Anglers will have success targeting these reds while casting larger Z-Man swimbaits around bait balls. Another favorite tactic that produces is to fish deeper ledges off some of the shoals with cut baits.
Slot-sized red drum are staged up around docks, seawalls, and back in the marshes. Cut menhaden or finger mullet have both produced plenty of strikes.
The first consistent action on speckled trout will start any day. Look for this bite to kick off in areas such as the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, and holes throughout Core Sound. Z-Man paddle tails or jerk shads and Vudu shrimp will entice plenty of trout strikes.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are starting to gather up in the early stages of their fall run. Look for the biggest congregations of fish to be around the inlet during tide changes and out on the Cape Lookout shoals. Casting metal jigs at these actively feeding schools will be the top producing and favorite method of targeting them.
Offshore bottom fishing remains very strong in the 90’+ range for grouper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Wahoo are also showing up in better numbers from 120’ on out to the break. This bite is just starting and only gets better.
Parker Franklin, of Wilmington, caught (and released) this flounder on live finger mullet near Shackleford Banks.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that wahoo action has been on an early upward trend, a good sign for this time of year. Most of the wahoo are still being caught inside the break.
Bottom fishing remains red hot, with gag grouper and other assorted species staged out on structure in the 100’ range. A little closer in, anglers can find vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and black sea bass.
Jessica, of Oceanana Pier, reports that spanish mackerel action has been pretty steady for anglers casting jigs both throughout the day and during low-light hours early or late.
Bottom fishing has dominated the action, with anglers catching great mixed bags of sheepshead, black drum, spot, pompano, croakers, and some sea mullet.
Nighttime fishing has produced speckled trout and some nice black drum.
