Morehead City July 29, 2010
Dave Bernstein and Alex Nichols with a pair of overslot red drum they hooked in a bay off the Neuse River. Dave's fish fell for a Rapala Skitterwalk, and Alex's took a MirrOlure MR17.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the flounder fishing remains hot in the area. Most of the action lately has come from the high-rise bridges, the railroad tracks, the port wall, and docks along the Morehead side of the ICW. Live finger mullet and mud minnows and the new Gulp mud minnow/croaker baits pinned to Carolina rigs are producing most of the action.
The sheepshead fishing is still excellent inshore as well (with fish to 8 lbs. weighed in last week). The bite’s been on at just about any hard structure in the area, particularly the port wall. Sea urchins are drawing bites from the biggest sheeps, but anglers are catching plenty on fiddler crabs and clams as well.
Red drum are feeding in the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, and the marshes off Core Creek. The water’s been in the 90’s on some of the flats, so the cooler water of an incoming tide has been producing the best fishing lately. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits are drawing most of the attention from the reds, but anglers are also catching some on live and cut mullet around ICW docks.
A few speckled trout are feeding in the deeper sloughs of the Haystacks and falling for live shrimp and mud minnows.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding in the inlet and just off it, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees or working Gotcha plugs, Kastmasters, and other small metal lures if they’re lucky enough to happen upon a school feeding on top.
Some king mackerel are feeding in the shipping channel on out to the Trawler Buoy and AR-315. The bite’s also been decent at the wrecks and rocks on the east side, and most of the fish are falling for live pogies.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with some gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, and more at spots in the 15-20 mile range out of the inlet. Squid and cigar minnows will fool the bottom dwellers.
Luke Nevis (age 8), from SC, with his first keeper flounder, a 4.5 lb. fish that fell for a live mud minnow on a Carolina rig beneath the railroad tracks. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Marty, of Freemans Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are picking up quite a few spanish mackerel while trolling in the inlet and behind Shackleford. Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and other lures will fool the mackerel.
The flounder bite is still good inshore at the bridges, port wall, and other spots, and anglers are also picking up good numbers while drifting the ICW channel off Morehead. Live mud minnows have been producing most of the fish lately.
Anglers are finding action with red drum in the area’s marshes early and late in the day. Anglers have also been picking up good numbers at night around the ICW docks near Morehead. Live mud minnows and white Gulp baits are attracting attention from the reds.
Some speckled trout are starting to show up around the high-rise bridges at night, and live shrimp will get their attention.
Despite the recent winds and high surf, anglers bottom fishing in the breakers have been hooking up with a mixed bag of pompano, whiting, spot, and other bottom feeders.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the citation-class ‘old’ red drum have shown up in Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River. Anglers can catch them while bottom fishing with large cut baits around shoals and other irregularities in the bottom.
Tarpon are also feeding in the sound and will fall for the same tactics.
Puppy drum are feeding in the marshes throughout the area, and they will hit topwater plugs, Strike-Pro Hunchbacks, and a variety of other lures.
Speckled trout are feeding in the sloughs of the sound, particularly towards Portsmouth.
Large sharks are feeding in the inlets and just offshore, and large cut or live baits will get their attention.
Lou Rusciano with a 60 lb. wahoo that fell for a skirted ballyhoo behind a planer while he was trolling 50 miles off Beaufort Inlet on the "Rene."
Peter, of Energizer Charters, reports that wahoo are showing back up in the Gulf Stream, along with decent numbers of sailfish. The action’s been spread out up and down the break, and most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo rigged under sea witches and other lures. Plenty of dolphin are still feeding in the Stream as well.
Inshore, the spanish and king mackerel fishing is decent around bottom structure and bait concentrations within a few miles of the beaches. Both fish will fall for trolled spoons.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that wahoo and sailfish are joining the dolphin action in the Gulf Stream. The best bite lately has been down around the Swansboro Hole.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers picked up some spot and croaker over the course of the week while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some flounder are also in the mix, though most have been on the small side.
Plug casters are picking up some bluefish, but the water’s been a bit dirty for spanish mackerel.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that anglers are still hooking up with some flounder from the pier on small live baits.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with some spot and starting to see a few large (some around 2 lbs.) pompano, which should arrive in force in the next month.
