Morehead City August 7, 2008
Bill Laughinghouse, from Atlantic Beach, with a 6 lb. speckled trout taken under the Atlantic Beach Bridge at night. Photo courtesy of Chasin Tails Outdoors.
Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that the red drum and speckled trout bite remains good in the marshes of the Haystacks, Core Creek, and Hoop Pole Creek. Live shrimp and mud minnows under popping corks, Gulp baits, topwater plugs, and other lures are fooling the specks and reds. Some flounder have been mixed in as well. With the recent hot weather, the bite has been best very early and late in the day.
Anglers are also hooking up with some near-citation specks, big bluefish, and ladyfish while fishing live shrimp and mud minnows underneath floats on the Atlantic Beach side of the high rise bridge. The action has been best at night.
The Morehead side of the bridge has been hosting a good gray trout bite, again at night, for anglers casting Stingsilvers, green grubs, and Tsunami glass minnows.
Flounder are feeding well in the deep water next to the port wall, and anglers are also landing good numbers of flatfish around the inlet and behind Shackleford. AR-315 and AR-320 have been producing good flatfish action as well. A Carolina-rigged mud minnow, finger mullet, or other small live bait will get the flounders’ attention.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches in clean water, and boats trolling gold Clark and Drone spoons are hooking good numbers of both.
Larger spanish mackerel (up to 5+ lbs.) and small kings are feeding at AR-315 and similar structure. Anglers trolling smaller live baits in the early mornings are doing the best on the big spanish.
Larger kings (some up to 40 lbs.) have taken up residence on the east side of Lookout Shoals at areas like the 1700 Rock and Atlas Tanker. Live baits like pogies are the best bet for these tournament class fish.
Bottom fishing has been productive on the east side as well, with anglers reporting solid grouper and triggerfish catches from the area around the 1700 Rock. Good action has been coming from the 210 and 240 rocks as well. Cigar minnows are fooling the groupers, and anglers are catching other bottom fish on squid.
The dolphin bite has slowed down, but there are still some wahoo feeding out near the Big Rock. Trolled ballyhoo will draw strikes from them.
Kerry Gardner, from Newport, NC, releasing a sailfish caught aboard his brother Bryan's boat "Plan Sea" by their other brother Jay. They hooked the sail near the 14 Buoy along with 11 dolphin and a wahoo. Also aboard were Kerry's son Will and father Bill.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the billfish bite was good offshore over the weekend. Boats hooked marlin and sailfish while trolling a variety of spots in the Gulf Stream, and rigged ballyhoo are drawing the billfish bites.
The dolphin are scattered, but boats are finding some at the Big 10/Little 10.
Big king mackerel are feeding on the east side of the shoals at the 1700 Rock. There have also been plenty of smaller king mackerel (8-12 lbs.) feeding just off Shackleford. Live baits and cigar minnows are taking the kings.
Spanish mackerel are feeding in the clear water within a few miles of shore, and boats are hooking up while trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees.
Surf anglers have been catching plenty of black drum on shrimp and squid.
Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that the blue water action has been a little slow lately.
There have been huge numbers of spanish mackerel feeding along the beaches and just offshore, and boats trolling Clarkspoons in clean water are catching all they want.
Slightly further offshore around the AR’s, larger spanish are feeding alongside school-sized king mackerel.
Larger kings and dolphin are holding around spots like Jerry’s Reef, the Hutton, and the SW Bottoms. Ballyhoo underneath Blue Water Candy witches and Mini Jags are drawing attention from both species. Good numbers of sailfish are in the area, too, so anglers should be prepared for billfish encounters.
Jesse, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching a decent number of speckled trout.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting, spot, and sharks on cut shrimp.
