Morehead City July 10, 2008
Matt, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking up with red drum in the Haystacks and the Middle Marsh on Gulp shrimp, gold spoons, and topwater plugs. The bait fishermen are finding action with cut mullet, finger mullet, and mud minnows beneath floats.
Speckled trout are feeding at docks near the Core Creek Bridge, and topwater plugs and mud minnows are fooling them into biting.
Flounder action has been solid at the port wall, the high rise bridges, the inlet, and at AR-315 and 320. Live baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish, and some anglers are also hooking up on white Gulps.
Sheepshead are also feeding along the port wall, at the high rises, and along ICW docks. Fiddler crabs and sea urchin baits will tempt them to bite.
Plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel are still feeding in the inlet and along Shackleford. Trolled Clarkspoons and bird rigs should put them in the boat.
Anglers are hooking some kings near the sea buoy, the Trawler Wreck, and AR-315 and 320. Cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs are producing the most action, as live baits are still somewhat scarce.
There are also some sea bass and big amberjacks feeding at the AR’s.
Dolphin action has slowed down inshore, with a few fish biting around the 14 Buoy. The best action for larger fish has been out past the Big Rock, where boats are also finding some blue marlin and sailfish. Ballyhoo trolled under Mini-Jags or Sea Witches will attract their attention.
Bottom fishing is still solid, with boats hooking grouper at ledges near the 90′ Drop and the NW Places. Cigar minnows or Williamson jigs will draw strikes from the grouper.
Â
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching a typical summertime mix of spot, croaker, whiting, pompano, bluefish, and other species.
The spanish mackerel bite has turned back on a bit, but the fish aren’t particularly large. Boats trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees are finding the most action.
Speckled trout, flounder, and red drum are feeding in the area marshes, especially the Haystacks and North River marshes. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp are producing the best results with all three.
The dolphin, wahoo, and sailfish bite was good last week between the 14 Buoy and Big Rock. Ballyhoo are attracting attention from all the offshore gamefish.
Â
Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that there are acres of spanish mackerel feeding just outside the inlets and along the beaches, where they should fall for Clarkspoons.
Some dolphin and king mackerel are feeding together around the Big 10/Little 10.
Boats are landing some solid wahoo in 20-23 fathoms of water along the break. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Mini Jags in black/red and black/purple are attracting the wahoos’ attention.
Further offshore, boats are finding some larger dolphin and a hot billfish bite in 90-100 fathoms up and down the break between the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole. Most boats are hooking 2-3 sailfish per day, along with the possibility of a marlin hookup. Ballyhoo under Mini Jags and Jags are drawing bites from the bigger dolphin and billfish.
