Morehead City August 16, 2007
Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that flounder are feeding in the deep water along the port wall. Carolina-rigged mud minnows are producing most of the flatfish, but anglers are also hooking a few on Gulp baits. Boats are putting together decent flounder catches while drifting behind Shackleford Banks, too.
The Haystacks are still holding plenty of red drum. Gulp Alive baits and mud minnows fished under popping corks will produce action with the drum. A few speckled trout and flounder are also coming from the Haystacks on the same baits.
Anglers are finding more hungry trout and drum around the Core Creek Bridge. Live shrimp, mud minnows, and Gulp Baits are the top producers.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the port wall and bridges. Anglers can target the sheepshead by dangling fiddler crab and sea urchin baits alongside the pilings or the wall.
Gray trout are feeding around the railroad trestle. Jigging Stingsilvers tipped with shrimp should produce bites from the grays.
Surf fishermen are hooking up with red drum, bluefish, spot, croaker, spanish mackerel, and flounder. The area around Fort Macon has been particularly productive recently.
The AR’s are still giving up good numbers of flounder to anglers dropping baits to the structures.
Spanish mackerel are feeding on the surface at the reefs, and anglers are hooking up with good numbers of spanish while trolling Clark and Drone spoons. Bigger spanish (up to 7 lbs.) are falling for live pogies.
Kings are feeding at the AR’s and around the Sea Buoy. The fish are also feeding at the traditional offshore spots like the Northwest Places and Big10/Little 10. Live pogies are the best bet for the kings, especially the bigger fish.
Dolphin fishing has slowed down a bit, but boats are still finding some dolphin between the 14 Buoy and the 90’ Drop. Wahoo are feeding well from the 90’ Drop to the Big Rock, and there are good numbers of sailfish in the same area.
Boats are also releasing a few blue and white marlin. Skirted ballyhoo are the top trolling baits for dolphin, wahoo, and the billfish.
Bottom structure around the 90’ Drop is holding plenty of grouper, mostly gags. Cigar minnows and Boston mackerel will both draw bites from the grouper.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the wahoo bite is still good from the 90’ Drop offshore. Sailfish are searching for meals in the same area, and both species will fall for medium ballyhoo trolled underneath skirted lures.
Kings are still feeding at a variety of offshore spots, but the bite is less consistent than in weeks past.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been stellar when boats can locate the schools. The fish are feeding voraciously, and anglers are hooking up with them by trolling, casting to breaking schools, and jigging for fish holding deeper in the water column.
The best action has been located close to the inlets, but the fish could pop up anywhere there’s bait. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spanish.
Surf and pier anglers are catching good numbers of flounder on live mud minnows. Some large sharks are also providing action for surf casters.
Inshore, flounder are feeding well in the deeper water of the Turning Basin and the ICW. Live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs will tempt them to strike,
Plenty of red drum are on the feed in the marshes of the Haystack and North River. Mud minnows will attract attention from the drum, and they’ll also fall for a variety of artificials.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the hot weather has put a damper on the fishing. Fortunately, the cooler temperatures forecast for the coming week should improve the action.
The water temperature is hovering around 90 degrees.
