Morehead City July 4, 2013
Ryan Feimster (age 7), of Morehead City, with a 7 lb. sheepshead that bit a fiddler crab near the Atlantic Beach Coast Guard Station.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that wind and rain have kept many anglers off the water over the past week, but those who have been fishing are still finding some action.
Sheepshead have been the main story lately, and anglers are continuing to find big numbers feeding around the port wall, bridge and dock pilings, and other inshore structure in the area. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are the ways to tempt bites from the sheeps.
Before the weather, there were still decent numbers of cobia around, so anglers may see more cobia action while casting around menhaden pods or bottom fishing around the inlets when it calms down.
Spanish mackerel are in the area, so wherever anglers can find clean water near the inlets or along the beachfront, they should be able to connect with some spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons, daisy chains, and other small baitfish imitators. Plenty of bluefish will be in the same areas.
Flounder should be feeding at nearshore structure like the AR’s, where 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are some of the best bets to hook up.
Black sea bass are in many of the same areas, and anglers found a solid bite and some fat fish at the NW Places the last time they were able to get offshore. Small jigs or bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits are tough for the bass to turn down.
Bottom fishing further offshore at spots like the 210, 240, and 305 Rocks has been producing more bass, triggerfish, beeliners, grouper, and more. Squid, cigar minnows, and mackerel are all excellent choices for the bottomfish.
The dolphin bite has been strong from the 14 Buoy to offshore spots like the Big Rock when boats have been out, and there should still be plenty of ‘phins along with a few wahoo, tuna, and billfish when the seas calm.
Inshore, speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding in the marshes of the Haystacks, Core Creek, and Neuse River. Live shrimp and mud minnows under popping corks are tough for both to turn down, and anglers can also hook up while casting topwater plugs or Gulps and other soft plastics.
Flounder are feeding in the channels behind Shackleford and elsewhere inshore, and anglers are hooking good numbers while drifting with live mud minnows.
Leslie Whitford with 2 and 3 lb. flounder that bit live mud minnows behind Shackleford Banks while she was fishing with her husband Eddie.
Gray trout action should still be good in the inlet and around the railroad tracks and Atlantic Beach Bridge. Jigging Stingsilvers or green grubs will tempt bites from the grays.
A mixed bag of puppy and black drum, sheepshead, sea mullet, flounder, and more are feeding around Fort Macon and will bite a variety of surf casters’ offerings. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are all effective, and anglers can also fool the flounder and reds on Gulps worked along the bottom.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a solid sheepshead bite at a variety of inshore structure in the area recently, with most fish falling for live fiddler crabs.
Surf casters are hooking some red and black drum on shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits. A mixed bag of other bottom feeders are also providing action in the breakers, including spot, sea mullet, and croaker.
Bluefish are feeding along the beachfront and nearshore, and when anglers can find some clean water, they should also find some action with spanish mackerel. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights will fool both the blues and spanish.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the dolphin bite remained solid when boats could make it offshore last week (with a surprising number of gaffers still in the mix for this late in the summer). Some yellowfin tuna are also still feeding in the area, and they will pounce on skirted ballyhoo just like the dolphin.
The billfish bite also remains decent in the blue water, and the sailfish and white and blue marlin will pounce on skirted ballyhoo as well.
John, of Oceanana Pier, reports that some spot, sea mullet, black drum, and croaker have been falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp recently.
A few flounder and speckled trout have been taking an interest in live baits fished under the pier.
