Added on Thursday, July 24, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City July 24, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout (some up to 24″) beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge, both day and night. Live mud minnows and shrimp fished beneath floats have been drawing most of the bites.

Some gray trout are also feeding around the bridge at night, and they’ll fall for Gulps, green grubs, and Tsunami glass minnows.

Red drum, trout, and a few flounder are feeding in the marshes like the Haystacks, the Middle Marsh, Core Creek, Back Creek, and Adams Creek. Topwater plugs will fool the reds and trout early and late in the day, and Gulps or live baits should produce results no matter what the time.

Big reds (30-40+ lbs.) are starting to show up in the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River near Cedar Island and Oriental. Large cut baits fished on the bottom near drop-offs and sandbars will get the drum’s attention.

Flounder are still feeding around the port wall, and Carolina-rigged mud minnows or finger mullet are tempting them to bite. The flatfish bite remains hot at AR-325 and 320 as well.

There are still some spanish mackerel feeding near the beaches, but the action has slowed a bit. Anglers should be able to hook the macks on trolled Clark and Drone spoons when they can find some clear water.

Boats are hooking some kings on live baits at AR-315, 320, and 330, and there have also been some feeding around the Big 10/Little 10 and the 14 Buoy. Some dolphin are also still hanging around the 14 and falling for live and dead baits.

Bottom fishing has been good on the east side of the shoals at the 1700 Rock, where anglers are hooking gag groupers and triggerfish.

The grouper and black sea bass bite has also been good at ledges around the Big 10/Little 10.

 

Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some chopper blues (in the 5-7 lb. range) on live baits and lures while fishing for flounder, drum, and trout.

The flounder bite has been good lately, and fish up to 5.5 lbs. have been landed from beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

The marshes of Core Creek, the North River, and the South River are producing red drum and specks for anglers casting Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, gold spoons, and live baits.

Surf fishermen are still finding a summertime mixed bag, including pigfish, whiting, spot, croaker, sharks, skates, and others. Squid and cut baits will draw bites from these bottom feeders.

Some large blacktip and spinner sharks are feeding along the beaches and behind Shackleford, and anglers baiting up with large cut or live baits should have little trouble hooking them.

A few king mackerel are still feeding close to the beaches, and anglers are hooking them at spots from the sea buoy out to the NW places. Live baits are top producers, but dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will work as well.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that the trolling action has been a little slow over the past week.

The dolphin and wahoo bite has been mostly inshore along the break in 17-23 fathoms.

The billfish bite has slowed somewhat, but anglers are finding action with some sailfish in the shallow water (10-20 fathoms).

Deep jigging has offered an alternative to the trolling lately, and anglers have landed some African pompano while working the lures over hard bottom areas in around 20 fathoms.

 

Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are catching some bluefish and spanish mackerel.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with spot on cut shrimp.

Small live baits are producing some action with flounder.