Morehead City August 4, 2011
Tonya Wanner, of Morehead City, with a 36 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo behind a yellow/green Ilander near the Big Rock while she was fishing with Warren Guthrie on the "Serenity Now" out of Town Creek Marina.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching some spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs in and around Beaufort Inlet. On calmer days it’s been possible to cast small metal lures like Jigfish to schools feeding on the surface.
Flounder are still feeding in the ICW and channels behind Shackleford, and anglers are catching limits while drifting live mud minnows along the channel edges (plenty of small fish are in the mix, but there are good numbers of keepers as well). Larger flatfish are feeding on the artificial reefs and around inshore structure like the port wall and the high-rise bridges. Larger live baits and bucktail/Gulp combinations are fooling the big flatties.
The red drum action is up and down, but anglers are hooking some in Core Creek and around the Haystacks. Some larger schools of fish have been reported in the surf off Shackleford Banks, but anglers need a calm day to go out and locate the fish. Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, gold spoons, live shrimp and mud minnows, and cut mullet have all been producing bites from the reds lately.
Sheepshead are still looking for meals around the port wall, bridges, ICW docks, and other inshore structure (with some to 10 lbs. weighed in last week). Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are tempting the bites from the sheeps.
Sea mullet, gray trout, pigfish, spot, croaker, and other bottom feeders are schooling up in the turning basin, and anglers can find plenty of action on spec and bottom rigs baited with shrimp, squid, and bloodworms.
Pier and surf anglers are connecting with a mixed bag of bottom feeders like sea mullet, spot, pompano, pigfish, black and red drum, flounder, and more. Shrimp, squid, bloodworms, cut baits, and live mud minnows are producing the bites in the surf zone.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been scattered, with fish coming from the inlet, AR’s, and the Dead Tree Hole, but not many from any one particular area. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will fool the kings when anglers find them.
This year’s sailfish bite is one of the best in recent memory, and anglers are finding the fish around offshore structure and out along the break.
Dolphin are feeding around the 14 Buoy, NW Places, 90’ Drop, and on out to the break. Anglers are hooking the dolphin and sails on skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing has still been producing plenty of action around structure in the 30-40 mile range. Grouper, triggerfish, beeliners, sea bass, amberjacks, and other bottom dwellers are filling up the fish boxes. Cigar minnows, mackerel, sardines, and squid are tempting bites from the bottom feeders, and vertical jigs have also been producing results.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been on for anglers working metal lures in the piers and surf. They’re also finding the fish by trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs from boats.
Some large (4-5’+) sharks are feeding along the shoreline and will bite cut baits.
Surf casters are catching some pompano, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders in the surf on shrimp and sand fleas.
Dr. Dan Abraham, of Emerald Isle, caught and released this sailfish after it struck a ballyhoo under a blue/white Mylar skirt near the Rise. He was fishing with Capt. Bobby Borquin of Teezher Charters.
Boaters have been reporting some dolphin and sailfish from the Big 10/Little 10, NW Places, and other spots inshore of the break lately. Skirted and naked ballyhoo will get their attention.
Inshore, the sheepshead bite is still strong around the port wall, bridges, and other structure. Live sea urchins and fiddler crabs will tempt them to bite.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that large red drum are feeding around Cedar Island, the mouth of the Neuse River and South River, and Point of Marsh.
Tarpon are still feeding out in the sound and should be moving into the river as well. Large cut baits will fool both the tarpon and the big reds.
Speckled trout are in the sloughs from Cedar Island down to Caison’s Island, and anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs, suspending lures like MirrOlure MR17’s, and popping corks with live baits or soft plastics beneath.
A few puppy drum are feeding in the marshes. Cut baits are proving more effective than artificials with the pups.
Spanish mackerel have shown up in the Pamlico Sound, and anglers can hook them while trolling small Drone spoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that a solid wahoo bite has materialized over the past week. The action’s been spread out up and down the break, and anglers are hooking the fish on skirted ballyhoo behind planers and on the surface.
A few sailfish are feeding in the same areas and will also strike the ballyhoo.
Closer to the beaches, there are still plenty of spanish mackerel feeding in and around Beaufort Inlet and along the beachfront.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that the water has cleaned up and anglers are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the planks.
A few healthy flounder have been taking an interest in live finger mullet beneath the pier.
Lots of croaker and other smaller bottom feeders are falling for shrimp and squid on double-hook rigs.
