Morehead City August 6, 2009
Leslie Whitford, of Morehead City, with a pair of gray trout she hooked in Beaufort Inlet on a spec rig tipped with shrimp. She was fishing with her husband Eddie.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching some stout speckled trout (to 6.5 lbs. lately) on live shrimp beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Carolina rigs near the bottom have been fooling the fish, and the bite’s been on at night and in the early mornings on low incoming tides.
Gray trout are feeding on the Morehead side of the bridge, and anglers are hooking them on Tsunami Glass Minnows, Gulp baits, and green grubs. Anglers are hooking up with more grays (some 3-4 lbs.) around the railroad tracks while jigging Stingsilvers and on live finger mullet. Some cobia have been seen around the tracks lately as well.
The flounder bite remains good around the railroad tracks, near the Coast Guard station, behind Shackleford, under the AB Bridge, and along the port wall (where anglers caught a number of doormats to 11 lbs. last week).
Sheepshead are also feeding along the port wall, at the bridges, and near the railroad tracks (with several in the 8-10 lb. class weighed in lately). Fiddler crabs or sand fleas fished close to the structure should fool the sheeps.
Red and black drum are feeding in the Haystacks and other area marshes. Live shrimp will fool both, and anglers can also hook the reds on live finger mullet or Gulp baits.
The lighted docks around the Core Creek Bridge have been producing action with reds and speckled trout at night, and live shrimp are fooling both.
Not many anglers have ventured into the ocean with all the wind lately, but some spanish mackerel are still feeding around the inlet and falling for trolled spoons and other lures.
Larger spanish are around the AR’s, and small live baits are top choices for them.
Flounder are also feeding at the AR’s, and anglers can hook them on Carolina-rigged live baits or bucktails tipped with Gulps.
When boats can make it there, the area around the Big 10/Little 10 is still producing some action with king mackerel and some smaller dolphin. Dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo will fool both predators.
Grouper, sea bass, triggerfish, and other bottom feeders are holding at structure in the same area, and anglers can hook them on squid and cigar minnows pinned to bottom rigs.
Dan Mattio, from Kingsville, MD, with a dolphin he hooked near the C Buoy. The 'phin fell for a live pogy while he was fishing out of Emerald Isle with Bob Wieciech and Bob Felber.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding some good king mackerel action at the rocks and wrecks east of Lookout Shoals. Live pogies are the best baits for the kings. Several pods of sailfish were in the area harassing bait balls last week as well, with anglers at the 1700 Rock seeing good numbers of the fish.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are still feeding in the inlet and along the backside of Shackleford Banks. Trolling Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and other lures will attract their attention.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been good in the Haystacks, the Middle Marsh, and the North River marshes. The fish have been feeding in the grass on high tides and in deeper holes when the water falls out. Live baits (like shrimp and finger mullet) and Gulps and other artificial lures will fool the reds.
Red and black drum are feeding around the docks along the ICW in Morehead. Anglers can fool both with live shrimp baits, and the black drum will also take pieces of cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
Anglers are finding good numbers of flounder in Clubfoot Creek and around the Newport River Bridge. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the flatties.
The sheepshead bite along the port wall has been solid lately (with fish to 10+ lbs.), and anglers are hooking the sheeps on fiddler crab and sea urchin baits.
Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that boats making the run to the blue water in the lousy weather of late have found excellent billfish action with sailfish and blue and white marlin. The action’s been best from the Big Rock north and in 60+ fathoms lately. Increasing numbers of wahoo and some dolphin have been in the mix as well.
Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Witches and Mini-Jags have been fooling all the Gulf Stream predators.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the winds and muddy water have made for some tough fishing lately, but bottom fishermen are picking up some spot and whiting on shrimp.
