Morehead City August 3, 2006
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that it’s been the best billfishing the area has seen in 30 years. The fish have been anywhere between the Big Rock and the Triple Zeros.
Pulling a mixture of skirted and naked ballyhoo is the best strategy to hook up. Boats are experiencing 10-20 shots a day at sailfish and white marlin, with some estimated 200-400 lb. blue marlin mixed in.
There are dolphin and wahoo mixed in with the billfish, but most boats are trolling spreads specifically targeted towards the bills.
Closer to shore, dolphin in the 5-9 lb. range have been around the Northwest Places, Big 10/Little 10, and the 14 Buoy. The best way to get in on the dolphin action is by trolling small ballyhoo or naked cigar minnows.
Spanish mackerel (up to 2 lbs.) and kings (up to 10 lbs.) are not far off the beach, despite rough and dirty water. The area between the Sheraton Pier and AR315 has been hot. Clark spoons or squid rigs behind birds seem to be the most effective baits to troll right now.
In the marshes, a good mix of flounder and puppy drum are biting well, along with an unusual number of trout for the summertime. Use Gulp baits and live mud minnows and finger mullet for best results.
George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports catches of big flounder this week, including fish in the 7 pound and 5 pound class. Try near the Coast Guard station using live mullet.
Sheepshead are also doing well. Reports have come in this week of catches from around the Coast Guard station, as well as the usual bridge pilings and docks, using crabs.
Redfish continue to bite well in the marshes using gold spoons and live bait.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting spoons and plugs in the turning basin, inlet, and out at AR315. There are also some flounder and sea bass to be caught off the bottom at AR315.
Kings are within a couple miles of the beach, and they’re hitting live or dead bait, as well as deep diving plugs.
Dolphin are biting at most reefs, especially when you can find a weed line (which have blown inshore).
Shane, at Second to None Charters, reports fantastic billfishing all week. Blue and white marlin and sailfish are abundant in the gulf stream right now. Ballyhoo are the bait of choice, and a pink/white Blue Water Candy skirt can make a difference in getting bites.
Bailer dolphin are around the 90 Foot Drop, and they are especially numerous around large patches of weeds. Blue Water Candy Dolphin Weenies are currently the hot bait.
There are good numbers of wahoo on the Big Rock, and a black/red skirted ballyhoo is a good way to score with fish averaging 25-30 lbs., with an occasional 50 pounder thrown in.
Spanish mackerel have been busting bait in the inlet, so they are there and waiting to be caught. A Clark spoon or small live bait should entice the spanish to eat.
Helen, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports a strong bite with plenty of variety for those fishing shrimp on bottom rigs. Anglers can expect black drum, bluefish, croaker, pompano, spadefish, spot, trout, and whiting.
Flounder are biting well, but not many people are fishing for them.
It has been too windy for most of the week to cast plugs.
