Morehead City August 12, 2010
Casey Stone, from Beaufort, with a 6.89 lb. spanish mackerel that fell for a live finger mullet outside Beaufort Inlet while she was fishing with her husband David. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the large red drum (40+ lbs.) have shown up in the Pamlico Sound, and anglers are catching good numbers near Cedar Island on large chunks of mullet and pogies.
Smaller reds are feeding in the Haystacks, Newport River, Core Creek, around the Beaufort docks, and elsewhere inshore, but the fish are scattered and not schooled up very tightly. Live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and spinnerbaits will all tempt bites from the reds.
The area’s flounder fishing remains consistent as well, with good reports coming from the port wall and around the high-rise bridges. Carolina rigged mud minnows and Gulp mud minnow/croaker baits are fooling most of the flatties.
Speckled trout are feeding under the Atlantic Beach Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on live shrimp, especially at night.
Sheepshead are still hanging around the port wall, bridge and dock pilings, and other hard structure inshore. Live fiddler crabs, clams, and sea urchins are the go-to baits for the sheeps.
Off the beaches, the big spanish mackerel bite remains hot at AR-315, the shipping channel, and other nearshore spots. Small live baits are the way to fool the big spaniards.
Kings are feeing at the same nearshore structure, and anglers are also picking up good numbers around the Atlas Tanker and the Summerlin reef on the east side. Larger live pogies or dead cigar minnows will attract attention from the kings.
The dolphin bite has been extremely scattered lately, but anglers are finding some fish around the NW Places. A few sailfish are mixed in, and they’ll both fall for rigged ballyhoo.
Further out, anglers are reporting a scattered pick of wahoo and some decent billfish action in the Gulf Stream.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with big numbers of triggerfish, flounder, sea bass, snappers, and groupers (along with plenty of amberjacks) around the NW Places and other offshore spots. Squid and cigar minnows are the most effective baits.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen are finding consistent action with whiting, spots, and some fat pompano (to 3 lbs.). Shrimp are fooling most of the fish.
The large spanish mackerel bite remains hot nearshore, where anglers are hooking fish (some over 5 lbs.) on small live baits around the sea buoy and the reefs and wrecks. Large Yo-Zuri plugs are also fooling some of the big spaniards.
The king mackerel bite has been decent along the shipping channel as well, and live baits are fooling most of the fish.
The dolphin bite is improving since the grass lines are reforming offshore after getting beaten up by the hard southwest winds several weeks back.
Inshore, gray trout are moving into the inlet, and anglers are hooking them on spec rigs and while jigging Shore Lures and other metal jigs.
Sheepshead fishing is still solid around the docks and bridges. Fiddler crabs and sea urchins are the best baits.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the “old” red drum are moving into the Pamlico Sound and Neuse and Pamlico rivers. Anglers can hook them on large cut baits around oyster reefs and other bottom irregularities, but they should use only large circle hooks and avoid handling the fish if possible in order assure their survival post-release.
Tarpon are showing up in the same areas, and they are vulnerable to the same tactics.
Some tarpon and large sharks are feeding on Lookout Shoals.
Puppy drum are feeding in the sounds and marshes, and they will fall for topwater plugs early and late in the day and live and cut baits at other times.
The king mackerel bite is on at the Big 10/Little 10, NW Places, the east side of the shoals, and the shipping channel. Live pogies are hard to beat for the kings.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
A few flounder are falling for smaller live baits on the bottom.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some flounder on live baits.
Pompano and spot are falling for shrimp on the bottom.
Plug casters have had a slow week due to muddy water, but the bluefish and spanish bite will crank back up when it clears.
