Morehead City – August 28, 2014
Randy and Michelle Hall, of Atlantic Beach, with a catch of speckled trout (the largest 4.66 lbs.) that fell for live baits in some local creeks. Photo courtesy of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers continue to see some solid flounder action in the area both inshore and offshore. The flatfish are feeding in the marshes and around structure like the port wall inshore, where anglers are tempting them to bite live finger mullet, mud minnows, and Gulp baits pinned to jigheads and bucktails.
Out in the ocean, anglers are hooking solid numbers of flounder at the AR’s and other structure within 10 miles of the beaches. Live baits will work in the ocean as well, but 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulps are tough to beat.
Some large spanish mackerel are feeding at the same ocean spots as the flatfish. Anglers can tempt the big spaniards to bite live finger mullet on light wire rigs, with the best action generally early in the morning.
Smaller spanish are chasing bait closer to the beaches, and anglers reported solid catches around Beaufort Inlet and in the shipping channel last week. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the smaller fish.
The sheepshead bite is still going strong inshore (with good numbers and some big fish). Most of the fish are coming from the port wall and local bridge and dock pilings, and live sea urchins and fiddler crabs are the best baits.
Red drum continue to feed in area marshes like the Haystacks and Middle Marsh, and anglers are hooking solid numbers on most days. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and live baits fished under popping corks are tough for the reds to turn down.
Speckled trout are feeding in many of the same areas, and the trout bite will only get better as the temperatures start to drop. At present, most of the trout action in the marshes seems to be taking place very early in the morning.
Offshore anglers are still reporting solid wahoo action at local Gulf Stream hotspots like the Big Rock and Rise, and that bite will also improve as summer fades to fall. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action with the ‘hoos, and they’re are also fooling decent numbers of dolphin feeding in the same areas.
Offshore bottom fishing has been hot recently, with the best action from the 30 mile range to the break. Grouper, cobia, and a few African pompano have been testing anglers’ tackle at the bottom spots, and smaller species like beeliners, sea bass, triggerfish, and more are abundant as well. The larger fish will take an interest in live and dead baits, with smaller cut baits and squid the way to go for the smaller fish. Vertical jigs like Blue Water Candy Roscoes can prove quite effective as well.
David Curran, of Oxford, NC, with a 13 lb. gag grouper that struck a live menhaden at some bottom structure in 70′ of water off Drum Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite remains good around Beaufort Inlet. Anglers are hooking big numbers of spanish while trolling Clarkspoons around the inlet and along the beachfront. Free-lining small live baits like finger mullet around the AR’s and other nearshore structure is producing solid action with some larger spaniards (4-6+ lbs.).
The king mackerel bite has picked up nearshore, and anglers slow-trolling the same structure, the shipping channel, and around Lookout Shoals are picking up some kings. Both live and dead baits are getting their attention.
Surf casters are reporting some solid red drum action around Fort Macon, with finger mullet and cut baits producing most of the fish.
Flounder fishermen are reporting some good fish, but plenty of undersized flatties are still in the mix. Live baits and Gulps are the way to go for the flounder.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting plenty of wahoo bites, primarily while pulling skirted ballyhoo.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some cobia in the area, and anglers landed several last week while bouncing bucktails for flounder at nearshore structure in the ocean.
Carter Edwards, of Washington, NC, with an 8.4 lb. sheepshead that he hooked on a live sea urchin while fishing near Harkers Island.
The flounder action remains solid in the ocean as well, and some puppy drum, gray trout, and large sea mullet are mixed in and biting bucktails, too.
Bottom fishing further offshore is producing action with gag grouper. Live menhaden are tough to beat for the gags.
King mackerel are feeding around the same structure where anglers are bottom fishing, and they will pounce on live baits slow-trolled or free-lined on the surface.
Hailey, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with spot, croaker, and pigfish while baiting up with bloodworms.
