Morehead City August 11, 2005
Lynn, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been good inside around the piers, pilings, bridges, and in the turning basin. Sheepshead are biting well, for those anglers targeting them. In the surf guys have been finding blues and pompano (with lots of small sharks and rays).
There’s been a good king bite in the area, with plenty of fish all the way from the inlet, to the Big 10, Little 10, and out to the 90′ Drop. And there’s lots of small dolphin in the same areas off the beach.
Also of note, a good spot bite was reported out of Swansboro in the White Oak River.
Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and tackle, reports that multiple sails have been reported in close, such as at the sea buoy, just past AR-315, and just outside of the inlet in the shipping channel. The flying fish are in close, so look for more shots at catching a sailfish. The dolphin numbers inshore have really increased, with lots of smaller dolphin scattered everywhere. They have been caught as close as the inlet.
Spanish mackerel fishing was good this past weekend with many being caught inside the turning basin. They are also being caught trolling down the beaches in 15-20 feet of water. The Cape Lookout shoal and rock jetty have produced some very nice spanish, with good numbers of bluefish in the same areas.
Flounder fishing is getting much better. Several fish up to 5 lbs. were reported from AR-315, and there are still lots of nice flounder in the deep water around the port and Radio Island, including the high rise bridges. There have also been good numbers caught at Barden’s Inlet drifting the deeper channels. Many fish are 18-20 inches.
Gray trout have been caught in numbers at the Harkers Island Bridge
The sheepshead are biting around the bridge pilings on the high rise bridges, and a lot of black drum are being caught by the sheepshead fishermen.
The white marlin bite has been excellent at the NE corner of the Big Rock and up to the 700 and 800 lines. There have also been reports here of sailfish, some blue marlin, wahoo, and lots of gaffers and smaller dolphin.
Larry, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that there’s still a decent spanish bite, with many in the 3 lb. class recently caught. With all of the live bait around the pier, they haven’t been hitting the Gotcha plugs as well. The best method has been floating out a grass shad on a Carolina rig with a long leader.
There’s been a decent flounder bite, with lots of small fish, but anglers are poking at some keepers.
The bottom fishing has slowed, especially during the day. At night you may pick up a few croaker, spots, or sea mullet.
Jimmy, at Triple “S” Pier, reports that they’ve landed a few spanish this week. The best bet for spanish has been using grass shad. Nothing big over the weekend, and bottom fishing has been slow.
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that good numbers of flounder came from the AR’s this week, with several fish in the 3 to 5 lb. class. They’re still catching the smaller ones, but more big ones are now being reported. Go with mullet or mud minnows.
The surf has been a little slow, but there have been some sea mullet and pompano.
Puppy drum are back in the marshes, with finger mullet or cut mullet as the best bet.
The kings are fairly close, with plenty to be caught inside of 5 miles. They’re hitting cigar minnows and live bait, and sizes range from below legal to the 30 lb. class. You might find a few larger spanish mixed in.
The dolphin have been scattered because the weedlines have been scattered.
