Morehead City – August 03, 2017
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that inshore flounder fishing has remained steady, and anglers are targeting fish in the marsh, near the port wall, and along the waterway docks and bridges. Live mud minnows and finger mullet on a Carolina rig have worked best, and Gulp plastics have been producing as well. When fishing the port area, anglers are finding the shallow water is holding better numbers of fish.
Those targeting sheepshead along concrete structure in the waterway and near the area bridges are landing good numbers of fish. Some fish have pushed the scale past the 5 lb. mark. Dropping live fiddler crabs and sea urchins near the pilings has worked best.
Redfish have been more plentiful this year than years past, and anglers are catching them a variety of ways. Topwater plugs, live minnows, live shrimp, and soft plastics have all worked well. The reds have ranged anywhere from 18-30” and have been holding on the flats and in the creeks near marsh and oyster points. The railroad tracks and the Beaufort High Rise Bridge have also seen some reds.
Out in the surf, spanish and blues are being landed from the piers early in the morning and late in the afternoon by jigging Gotcha plugs and other metal jigs. Fishing on the bottom has produced a few sea mullet, pompano, and black drum for those soaking fresh shrimp. When casting live minnows, anglers have hooked into a few keeper flounder. Red drum have been feeding in the suds, and fresh cut mullet is best for them.
Just off the beach, anglers are having luck catching good numbers of spanish while trolling Clarkspoons and Bowed-Up Lures spoons. When fish have been seen busting on top, casting Glass Minnow jigs has been the best way to get some sight fishing action. The spanish have varied in size, but some fish have hit the 20”+ mark. Targeting the inlets near high tide has produced the highest numbers of fish.
Flounder fishing the nearshore reefs has also produced solid numbers of keeper fish. Jigging 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp in pearl white or glow has been the ticket. A few kings are also feeding nearshore, and most fish have been in the 10-15 lb. range. AR-315 and the Atlas Tanker have both been productive.
Offshore fishing has been tough due to the wind, but anglers that are persistent have been rewarded with good bottom fishing. Grouper, triggerfish, and black sea bass have all been feeding well on the east side of the Cape. The dolphin bite has been hit or miss, as the fish are very scattered. Those that are covering lots of water near the sea buoy, Northwest Places, and Big 10/Little 10 have found a few fish willing to take a small or medium ballyhoo.
Marc Gottlieb with a flounder and drum caught while using live bait in the Cape Lookout surf.
Tanner, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that night fishing has been the ticket inshore. Targeting lighted docks has produced quality trout when casting shrimp imitation lures.
The redfish bite has also been hot, and anglers are having luck casting topwater plugs in the early morning and late evening hours. Targeting oyster structure and marsh edges has worked best for the reds.
Fishing around area bridge structure has produced good numbers of sheepshead and gray trout. Dropping a live fiddler crab is best for the sheepshead, while fresh shrimp or a metal jig will work for the trout.
Nearshore, small kings (in the 5-6 lb. range) have been feeding well, and trolling Drone spoons has been the best tactic for them. A few spanish pushing the 5 lb. mark have been mixed with the kings.
On the bottom around the reefs and wrecks, anglers have been landing good numbers of flounder while jigging bucktails. Sharks have also been feeding well near the reefs and wrecks.
The wahoo bite offshore has picked up and become steady. Blackfin tuna are in the same areas, and a few small mahi and scattered sailfish have also been landed.
On the bottom, grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, and beeliners have all been landed dropping live and cut baits.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that fishing the nearshore reefs and wrecks has produced good limits of flounder. Working Breakday bucktails tipped with Z-Man jerk shads and live minnows has produced the most strikes. Amberjacks, barracudas, grouper, and the occasional 60+ lb. cobia have been landed near the wrecks as well.
Light lining live minnows nearshore has produced good catches of quality spanish. When trolling with dead cigar minnows, kings and a few large spanish have been willing to cooperate. Most fish are holding near structure.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that off the beach in 60-75′ of water, trolling live baits and Yo-Zuri plugs has been the ticket to hooking anglers up with some fast-paced action. Kings, dolphin, spanish, and amberjacks have all been present and feeding well.
Bottom fishing in the 75-90′ range has produced some good bottom fishing, with catches including grouper, black sea bass, and triggerfish.
Inshore fishing has remained steady, and flounder and red drum have been the main targets. Fishing a live finger mullet or a live shrimp on a Carolina rig has produced best. A few speckled trout have been in the mix as well, and bouncing Gulp plastics on the bottom has worked for the trout.
Donnie and Karen McArthur caught this bull mahi 15 miles out of Beaufort Inlet. The fish fell for a ballyhoo dressed with a red and white Sea Witch.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that the swordfish bite has picked up, and anglers are having success landing them throughout the day.
Wahoo are also feeding well, and most fish have fallen for a Blue Water Candy sea witch. A few sailfish have also been in the mix. All of these fish have been holding around the 40 fathom mark.
Robin, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers tossing fresh shrimp on the bottom have found plenty of action. Sea mullet, croaker, pigfish, and spot have all been actively feeding off the pier.
