Morehead City August 30, 2012
Jonathan Hall, of Fayetteville, NC, with an 18 lb., 4 oz. king mackerel that bit a spanish sardine while he was fishing 45 miles off Beaufort Inlet on the "Carolina Princess."
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of spanish mackerel in between the persistent rain showers over the past week. Anglers are still catching plenty of spanish while trolling Clarkspoons, but the casting bite on metal jigs has turned on as well.
Larger spaniards (some to nearly 7 lbs.) are falling for live baits at the nearshore reefs.
Flounder are still feeding at the nearshore reefs, where live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will get their attention.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is getting better on the east side of the shoals, with some action on the west side around the inlet as well. Live baits are producing the largest kings, but anglers are hooking plenty on dead cigar minnows, too.
Dolphin have moved inshore, and boats are hooking bailers in the 10-15 mile range while trolling for kings and spanish.
Large wahoo are feeding amongst the kings on the east side, with more on offshore to the Big Rock. Plenty are falling for live baits that anglers are trolling for king mackerel, with skirted ballyhoo producing most of the action further offshore.
Justin Hudson, of Wendell, NC, with a 50 lb. wahoo he hooked on a live bait while trolling east of Cape Lookout Shoals. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Bottom fishermen are still hooking plenty of sea bass, triggerfish, snapper, grouper, and more at ledges and live bottoms 30-40 miles out. Live baits, vertical jigs, and dead cigar minnows, sardines, and menhaden will all produce results on the bottom dwellers.
Inshore, the flounder bite remains strong around the port wall, bridge and dock pilings, and in the channels along the ICW and behind Shackleford. The marshes have also been producing some keeper flatfish. Live mud minnows, shrimp, and Gulps are all producing plenty of action with the flounder.
Puppy drum fishing is still a bit slow, but there are some fish feeding around Carrot Island and the Coast Guard docks. Live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and spinnerbaits are all attracting attention from the reds.
Some speckled trout are feeding in the Haystacks, Core Creek, and around Radio Island. Live shrimp are the best bets for the specks, but anglers can also hook them on topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and suspending baits like MirrOlure MR17’s and Yo-Zuri 3D series baits.
Paul, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some good puppy drum fishing along the beachfront. It hasn’t been too consistent in any one area, so staying on the move will help anglers find the fish. They’re chasing finger mullet down the beach, so anywhere with mullet is a good spot to try, and finger mullet are the best baits.
Daniel Riggan, of Roxboro, NC, with a 7.14 lb. flounder that struck a live bait near the Morehead port wall. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
The spanish mackerel bite remains excellent when boats are able to get out the inlet. Most of the fish are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights.
Flounder fishing is still solid around the nearshore reefs and AR’s, with most of the fish falling for 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits. Live baits will tempt bites from the flatfish, too.
There’s also starting to be a decent flounder bite in 10-15’ of water inshore, where live mud minnows and shrimp have been the most productive baits.
Speckled trout fishing has improved in the marshes of the Haystacks, Core Creek, Middle Marsh, and Core Sound. Live shrimp and Gulp baits are both attracting attention from the specks.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that there’s been fairly good wahoo fishing over the past week, with some days red hot and others slower. A few bailer dolphin and sailfish are mixed in, and all are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.
Spanish mackerel fishing closer to the beaches has been excellent (with bigger fish showing up). The best action has come on trolled Clarkspoons in around 40’ of water.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with pinfish and a few sea mullet.
