Morehead City July 22, 2010
Randi Efland, from Morehead City, with an 8.5 lb. sheepshead she hooked at the Cape Lookout rock jetty on a Gulp shrimp. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the flounder bite just continues to get better in the area. Anglers are finding the fish around the high-rise bridges, ICW docks and channel edges, the port wall, and the channels behind Shackleford. Mud minnows and other live baits and the new Gulp mud minnow/croaker soft baits are fooling the flatties.
The bite’s also still on around AR-315, and 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are fooling most of the fish.
The sheepshead fishing has been incredible lately as well, with the best action at the bridges and around the port wall. Some black drum are mixed in, and both are falling for clams, sand fleas, fiddler crabs, and sea urchins (with the largest sheeps coming on urchins).
Red drum are scattered throughout the shallows in the area, with good reports coming from the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, and Core Creek areas. Anglers are hooking them on live baits, Gulps, spinnerbaits, and topwater plugs.
Some speckled trout are feeding alongside the reds in the Haystacks, and anglers are also hooking decent numbers of specks around the bridges in the evening and nighttime hours on live shrimp.
Outside the inlets, the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite is on along the beaches and at nearshore structure. The best fishing has been very early in the mornings for anglers casting Kastmasters, Gotcha plugs, and Clark Casters, or trolling with Clarkspoons and bird/squid rigs.
Some king mackerel (to 20+ lbs.) are feeding in the shipping channel and at nearby areas like the Trawler Buoy. Live pogies and dead cigar minnows are both tempting the kings to bite.
Dolphin are scattered offshore, but anglers caught decent numbers around the Big 10/Little 10 and NW Places last week on ballyhoo and cigar minnows.
Bottom fishermen have found action with triggerfish, sea bass, snappers, groupers, and plenty of amberjacks in the same areas.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still finding big numbers of peanut dolphin at offshore spots like the 90’ Drop and 14 Buoy.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with plenty of black sea bass at structure around the Big 10/Little 10 on squid and small cut baits.
A bit closer to the beaches, there’s been a decent triggerfish bite at the artificial reefs. Small pieces of squid should attract attention from the triggers.
The spanish mackerel and bluefish bite is still decent early and late in the day, and anglers are hooking them while both trolling Clarkspoons and other lures and casting metal jigs when they’re feeding on the surface.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are finding action with a summertime mix of spot, croaker, whiting, flounder, pigfish, and an occasional black drum. Shrimp will fool all the bottom feeders.
Inshore, the sheepshead bite has been excellent lately. The fish are feeding around inshore structure like the port wall and bridge pilings, and fiddler crabs or sea urchins will fool them into biting.
George Peal, of Morehead City, and Thomas Peal (age 9), of Greenville, with Thomas's first dolphin, whcih fell for a live pogie on the east side of Lookout Shoals while they were bottom fishing with William Crocker on the "Sweet G."
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the strong south winds have kept most boats at the dock for the week, but the dolphin fishing should be excellent when boats can again make the run offshore. Bailer dolphin are feeding inshore of the Gulf Stream, and boats will likely find action with them in 15-20 fathoms, with larger gaffers out deeper.
Some white marlin and sailfish should be mixed in with the ‘phins in the deeper water.
Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Jags and Witches will fool the dolphin and billfish.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that tarpon have moved into the Pamlico Sound, and anglers are seeing them around Brant Island Shoals, the South River, and a few up the Neuse River towards New Bern.
Some citation-class red drum are mixed in with the tarpon, and anglers fishing cut baits on the bottom stand a good chance of hooking both.
Schools of puppy drum are working the flats in the area and will fall for jerkbaits, topwater plugs, and more.
A few speckled trout are mixed in with the pups, and mud minnows on Carolina rigs will get their attention.
King mackerel are still feeding in the Beaufort shipping channel and out to the NW Places and Big 10/Little 10. The bite’s also been good at spots east of Lookout Shoals. Live pogies are fooling most of the mackerel.
Steve, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishermen are decking some croaker and a few flounder.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
Some fat flounder (to 3-4 lbs.) are feeding around the pilings, and anglers are hooking them on small live baits.
