Morehead City August 8, 2013
Kevin Taylor with a 25 lb. red grouper that bit a vertical jig in 200′ of water off Beaufort Inlet.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports, that the spanish mackerel bite is turning back on as the water continues to clean up. Anglers are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures around the inlet and beachfront, and they’re starting to school up in numbers large enough to cast metal lures to on light tackle as well.
Some larger spanish (to 7 lbs.) are feeding around the artificial reefs and other nearshore structure and biting small live baits and dead cigar minnows.
Some king mackerel are mixed in with the big spaniards and falling for the same baits. Larger kings (20-30+ lbs.) are more prevalent at the structure east of Lookout Shoals.
Dolphin have begun to scatter out, but anglers have reported action with them from the Beaufort sea buoy all the way out to the Big Rock recently. Trolling small and medium ballyhoo, or casting to fish anglers spot on the surface, is producing most of the action with the ‘phins.
Some healthy wahoo are feeding around the Big Rock and other blue water spots, and boats also released decent numbers of blue and white marlin while trolling the Gulf Stream last week.
William Parker and James McCarter, of Lexington, NC, with a 78 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo near the Big Rock. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Bottom fishermen are reporting plenty of action with gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers at the offshore ledges, wrecks, and rocks. Squid, cigar minnows, mackerel, and vertical jigs have all been producing action with the bottom fish.
Flounder are feeding around nearshore structure like the AR’s, but the bite in the ocean has been up-and-down lately. Bouncing 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits around the structure is the best way to hook up with the ocean flatfish.
The flounder bite is also going strong inshore. Anglers are catching big numbers while drifting behind Shackleford Banks and in the other channels. Larger fish are looking for meals near structure like the port wall and bridge and dock pilings. Live mud minnows and finger mullet along with Gulp baits are tempting bites from the flatfish.
Sheepshead are feeding at the same inshore structure and will pounce on live fiddler crabs and sea urchins.
The red drum bite has been decent in the marshes around Core Creek and the Haystacks. Live shrimp and finger mullet under popping corks have been fooling most of the reds lately, but anglers can also hook up on topwater plugs and a variety of other artificials. A few speckled trout are mixed with the reds, but the trout bite’s been a bit slow.
Sea mullet, gray trout, and other bottomfish are feeding in the inlet and turning basin, where anglers can hook them on spec and bottom rigs tipped with shrimp or squid.
Gavin Tippett, of Kernersville, NC, with a black drum he hooked in the Atlantic Beach surf near the old Sheraton Pier.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are hooking a mixed bag of bottomfish including spot, croaker, pigfish, pompano, sea mullet, and more. Bloodworms have been the best bait lately, but anglers are also hooking up on shrimp and squid.
The spanish mackerel bite has been hit-or-miss, but anglers are hooking decent numbers while trolling Clarkspoons on many days. Larger spaniards (5+ lbs.) are feeding around nearshore structure and are much more likely to bite small live baits than spoons or other artificials.
Inshore, there’s been a good speckled trout and puppy drum bite in the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, Core Sound, and other marshy spots in the area. Anglers are hooking both on live baits, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and more.
John, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet, pompano, and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking bluefish, and they had some spanish mackerel action last week.
