Morehead City August 1, 2013
Capt. Brad Kimrey, Madelyn Shore, Capt. Patrick Shore, and Ben Dillon with sheepshead to 7 lbs. they hooked near the Morehead port wall on live sea urchins. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Aaron, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing some solid spanish mackerel action while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures along the beachfront and around the inlets.
Larger spanish (to 5+ lbs.) and some smaller king mackerel are feeding at nearshore structure and around Beaufort shipping channel. Live baits are better bets for the bigger spaniards.
Larger kings can be found slightly further out and at spots east of Lookout Shoals.
Flounder are feeding at the AR’s and other nearshore structure, and they will pounce on Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs.
A few cobia are still around, but most have been caught offshore instead of along the beachfront.
Increasing numbers of sailfish have been reported by boats fishing 8-15 miles out, and some smaller dolphin have been moving into that range as well. Ballyhoo and live baits are top choices for the sails, and anglers can hook dolphin on the same or on smaller lures tipped with Uncle Josh pork strips.
More (and larger) dolphin and some wahoo have been feeding further offshore, where anglers are trolling medium ballyhoo and skirted lures with success.
Bottom fishermen are finding grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and other bottom dwellers at offshore structure, and the grouper should be moving into the 15-20 mile range as August wears on. Squid, sardines, cigar minnows, and other baits are producing action with the bottom feeders.
Inshore, anglers are finding some solid flounder action around the port wall, bridges, and other structure. Live baits and Gulps are tempting bites from the flatfish.
Sheepshead are looking for meals in many of the same areas. Anglers can fool the sheeps with live fiddler crabs and sea urchins.
Surf casters are hooking some healthy red drum from the beaches on cut mullet. Bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms is producing plenty of panfish like spot, croaker, and sea mullet.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing an improving spanish mackerel bite in the area, with good numbers caught in less than 20’ of water last week by boaters trolling Clarkspoons off the beaches and around the shoals at Beaufort Inlet.
Tyler Stox and Adam Dietrich (both 14), of Greenville, with a 12 lb. red and 20 lb. gag grouper they hooked on live pinfish and cut bait while fishing off Beaufort Inlet on the headboat “Carolina Princess.”
Larger spanish are feeding at nearshore structure, and they will pounce on small live menhaden.
There’s been a decent king mackerel bite materializing at some of the same spots and further offshore, and menhaden are also top bets for the kings.
Good numbers of dolphin have been reported as close to shore as the sea buoy, with more action from there offshore to the break. Live baits, cigar minnows, ballyhoo, and other offerings will all get attention from the dolphin.
Wahoo, sailfish, marlin, and blackfin tuna have been mixed with the ‘phins out around the Big Rock, and all will take an interest in ballyhoo and skirted lures.
There’s been a steady mixed bag of panfish like sea mullet, croaker, pompano, and many more feeding along the beachfront and biting shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs (with bloodworms the best bet lately).
Some larger red drum are also feeding along the beach near Fort Macon, and they’re biting shrimp and cut baits.
More reds and some flounder are looking for meals in the creeks, where both have a tough time turning down a live mud minnow.
The flounder action has also been good behind Shackleford Banks, around the port wall, and near dock and bridge pilings in the area. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits are both proven flounder producers.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking plenty of dolphin while trolling along the break off Beaufort Inlet (and decent numbers of gaffers are still mixed with the bailers). There’s also been a good showing of sailfish recently, and some wahoo and blackfin tuna have been finding their way into the fish boxes as well.
The bite’s been good up and down the break, and ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches are fooling most of the fish.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and smaller bluefish on shrimp.
More blues and some spanish mackerel have been taking an interest in Gotcha plugs when the water’s clean.
