Morehead City – July 23, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish around the inlets while trolling Clarkspoons and daisy chain and squid rigs behind inline weights and #1 and #2 planers. A few are falling for metal casting jigs around the inlets.
Some larger spanish mackerel are feeding around Cape Lookout and the AR’s, and they’re biting live baits.
King mackerel are moving into the shipping channel area, where trollers are hooking them on live baits and dead cigar minnows. Some dolphin have pushed into the same areas, where they’re biting small skirted ballyhoo.
Good numbers of flounder are feeding at the same wrecks and reefs as the spanish, and they’re biting live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs.
There’s also been a decent flounder bite inshore around the port wall, bridges, and inshore channels. Live mud minnows are fooling most of the flatfish inside.
Sheepshead are looking for meals at the bridges and port wall, where anglers can hook them while dangling sea urchins and fiddler crabs near the structure.
Red drum action remains up-and-down inshore. Anglers who know where some fish are are getting bites without difficulty, but finding the fish has been a challenge for many. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and live mud minnows have been fooling most of the reds that anglers are catching.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is going on from 3-4 miles off Cape Lookout to the Beaufort sea buoy and on out to the 90’ Drop and beyond. Anglers are hooking most of the ‘phins on ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishermen continue to hook plenty of triggerfish, black sea bass, grouper, amberjacks, and more. Squid, cigar minnows, and vertical jigs are fooling most of the bottom feeders.
Jamie Horne, of Morehead City, with a bull dolphin that bit an Alien lure while she was trolling west of the 240 Rock.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent action with amberjacks and more at AR-330 and other structure in the same range. Live chumming is bringing the jacks to the surface, where anglers can hook them on live baits, jigs, and topwater plugs. A few cobia are in the same area and will also come to the surface with the jacks.
Flounder fishing remains good at structure closer to the beach, where anglers are hooking the fish on bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Some large spanish mackerel are feeding in the same areas and around Cape Lookout, and they’re biting live menhaden and finger mullet on light wire rigs.
Anglers are hooking plenty of small spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, but dirty water has pushed the bite out to the 40-50’ depths on many days.
King mackerel have been biting well around the sea buoy and nearby for anglers trolling live baits and cigar minnows.
Anglers have also caught dolphin as close in as the sea buoy recently, with more action out to the 14 Buoy and 90’ Drop areas. The dolphin are falling for the same things as the kings (along with rigged ballyhoo).
Offshore bottom fishermen are finding plenty of snapper, sea bass, triggerfish, and grouper while dropping baits in the 100’ depths and deeper.
Capt. Lee Smith and the “Carterican” crew took first place at the 2015 Bart Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament with 1600 points they accumulated by releasing a pair of sailfish on each of the event’s two fishing days.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some solid flounder inshore in the area right now. Most are falling for live mud minnows around docks and other structure.
The spanish mackerel bite has been good just off the inlets and around Cape Lookout. Anglers are hooking most of the spaniards while casting flashy metal lures at fish they spot feeding on the surface.
Good numbers of king mackerel are feeding around Cape Lookout and the Beaufort shipping channel. Most are falling for slow-trolled menhaden and other live baits.
Structure within 10 miles of the beach is holding plenty of amberjacks, and anglers are connecting with the hard-battling fish while dropping live menhaden to the structure or pitching them to curious fish on the surface.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with dolphin while trolling the blue water off Beaufort Inlet. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna have been mixed in, and all are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Steve, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking a few croaker.
