Morehead City August 22, 2013
Connor Saieed with a wahoo that struck a ballyhoo/chugger combo in 40 fathoms of water off Beaufort Inlet.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is getting better, and most anglers seeking the little mackerel are connecting. The best bite recently has been a bit further off the beaches, but anglers have been hooking some fish around Fort Macon as well. Trolling Clarkspoons and small daisy chains behind planers, trolling weights, and bird teasers is producing most of the spanish action.
Some larger spaniards are feeding around AR-315 and other nearshore structure, and anglers are hooking the big fish on live baits like finger mullet fished on light wire leaders.
Anglers bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails on the bottom are hooking some flounder at the same structure. Gray trout are also feeding in the area and biting bucktails and small vertical jigs like Stingsilvers.
Inshore, flounder action remains solid around the bridges, port wall, ICW docks, and other structure. Live mud minnows and a variety of Gulp baits have been fooling the flatfish inshore.
Sheepshead are holding in many of the same areas, where live fiddler crabs and sea urchins dangled tight to the structure have been producing results.
The red drum bite has been up-and-down in the marshes, with anglers reporting good catches on some days and few fish on others. Live baits under popping corks have been the most productive offerings lately, but anglers are also connecting on topwater plugs, soft plastics, and a variety of other lures.
A few speckled trout are feeding in the marshes and creeks (one nearly 6 lbs. weighed in. recently), but the bite hasn’t been great. There are plenty of specks feeding in the Neuse River, so it should be another excellent fall once the fish get on the move.
Tara Hughes with a king mackerel that bit a live menhaden at the East Rock on the east side of Lookout Shoals.
A few specks have also been hooked in the surf recently. Surf casters are connecting with sea mullet, black drum, pompano, pigfish, and other bottom feeders on fresh shrimp. Some red drum have been taking an interest in cut mullet between Fort Macon and Oceanana Pier.
Offshore, anglers continue to report solid wahoo action from the 14 Buoy offshore to the Big Rock. Most are falling for ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored trolling lures. Anglers are also hooking a few wahoo while live-baiting the east side of Cape Lookout Shoals around the Atlas Tanker.
Bailer dolphin have shown up, but they’ve been scattered out. Boats who do find the dolphin are hooking solid numbers while trolling ballyhoo and cigar minnows.
Offshore bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action at the ledges and other structure in the 30+ mile range. Triggerfish, beeliners, sea bass, grouper, and more are feeding around the structure and taking an interest in squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel baits. Vertical jigs like the Blue Water Candy Roscoe are also proving effective.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some puppy drum in the local surf (some under-slot but most 20-22”). Shrimp and cut mullet are tempting most of the bites from the reds.
There’s also been a decent speckled trout bite in the surf for some anglers (with some solid 18-20” fish), a great sign for the fall bite to come. White Gulp baits seem to have been the most effective on the specks recently.
The Gulps are also fooling big numbers of flounder, but most are undersized.
Boyce Bishop, of Mebane, NC, with an 8.53 lb. sheepshead that struck a live fiddler crab near the Morehead City state port. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Anglers tossing bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms from the beaches are catching plenty of panfish, including sea mullet, pompano, spot, and more.
Inshore, there’s been some decent speckled trout and puppy drum action in the creeks and Core Sound. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and live baits are fooling both fish.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been decent for anglers who can get out to clean water. Those who do are hooking good numbers on #0 Clarkspoons trolled with planers and torpedo weights.
Offshore, anglers are reporting a continued wahoo bite along with some scattered dolphin.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the wahoo bite remains good off Beaufort Inlet, with the fish feeding a bit shallower (25-30 fathoms) than earlier in the summer. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the wahoos, and both planer and surface lines are drawing bites (with plenty of exciting topside bites this week). A few sailfish are mixed in with the ‘hoos.
Some scattered dolphin are also feeding offshore, but boats find them some days and don’t on others.
John, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier.
Some flounder (to 4+ lbs.) are biting live baits on the bottom.
Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and black drum.
