Morehead City – July 7, 2016
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers fishing just off of area beaches are catching keeper spanish mackerel with the occasional 6 lb. fish mixed in. The majority of the spanish are falling for #0-#1 Clarkspoons trolled behind a #1 planer or a 2-3 oz. trolling weight. While most of the spanish are being caught in 15-20’ of water, the bigger fish are in deeper water 2-5 miles offshore. Live baiting on scaled down king mackerel rigs with medium menhaden or large mullet is the best way to fool the citation-class spanish mackerel. Anglers are also having success catching small king mackerel mixed in with the spanish.
Offshore live bottom and artificial reefs like AR-315 and AR-320 are holding large numbers of keeper flounder. Most of the flatfish action is on 3 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 3” white Gulp shrimp bounced off the bottom near the structure (but not right on top of it). Anglers can also target the flatfish using live mullet or mud minnows fished on a Carolina rig. Mixed in with the flounder are plenty of small black sea bass and other bottom feeders.
Inshore, anglers are reporting solid action while fishing for sheepshead around area docks, bridges, and the port walls. This crustacean loving fish lives close to heavy structure where it feeds on barnacles, crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins, so anglers looking to connect with one need to mimic their food sources; a fiddler crab on a Carolina rig is irresistible to a hungry sheepshead.
Area marshes and creeks are producing mid-to-upper slot red drum and keeper-sized trout for anglers who are persistent and stay on the move to find fish. The topwater bite is contained to early and late in the day when the sun is not at full force, but anglers are also having success using popping corks baited with live mullet or shrimp fished near grass banks, oyster beds, and ledges.
Surf anglers have found good numbers of fish just off the beaches, and while sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish seem to be dominating the action, anglers are also catching plenty of over-slot reds just past the breakers. Cut mullet, menhaden, or blue crab will get the attention of both the blues and reds.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that offshore anglers are finding scattered action with mahi, but there are still plenty around for anglers to catch. Most of the action is in the 15-20 mile range where anglers are finding them in spots like Northwest Places, #14 Buoy, and AR-305. While the fish may be scattered, the best way to target them is to troll a variety of artificial lures and dead baits like cigar minnows and ballyhoo. Weedlines, temperature breaks, rips, and floating structure will all hold baitfish that attract a variety of offshore species.
Past the break, anglers are reporting red hot action with blackfin tuna and wahoo, with the occasional sailfish and blue marlin mixed in.
Offshore bottom fishing continues to be steady. Gag grouper, snappers, black sea bass, and beeliners are all being found on live bottoms in the 15-20 mile range where anglers are tempting them to bite on Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with squid, cigar minnows, and Gulp shrimp.
Inshore, anglers are reporting increasing action with large flounder caught near ICW docks and bridges. Most of these large flatfish are being taken on Carolina rigs baited with live mullet, peanut pogies, and mud minnows, but anglers are also reporting success when fishing a variety of soft plastics on jigheads.
Eric Thompson, of Jacksonville, with a mahi caught while fishing aboard the “Wahoo Wha” out of Morehead City. The mahi fell for a naked ballyhoo while fishing south of the Big Rock.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that anglers are still finding good numbers of flounder at nearshore artificial reefs. These oceanic flatfish are a bit bigger than they were earlier in the season, and most of the fish coming up are keepers, with the occasional 5 lb. fish mixed in. Using 2-3 oz. bucktails tipped with a 3” Gulp shrimp in white or new penny have been particularly effective lately, but anglers are also having success using live or cut bait on Carolina rigs.
Amberjack, barracuda, king mackerel, and the occasional cobia are also being found offshore. The majority of the action is in the 5 mile range where anglers are finding this mixed bag of species trolling live menhaden and bluefish over structure like wrecks, rocks, and ledges. Anglers are also finding mahi in the 5 mile range, but they are few and far between.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are finding large numbers of sharks just outside of area inlets. Large blacktips and spinner sharks are providing the most consistent action, but the occasional tiger shark is mixed in as well. Trolling large live baits like bluefish or menhaden near shrimp boats is the easiest way to find hungry sharks, but anglers should give the trawlers plenty of room to avoid a collision with their gear.
Inshore, anglers are catching red drum, trout, and flounder in creeks just off of the ICW. Docks and bridges seem to be holding the majority of fish, but anglers can also find them near grass banks and oyster beds. A popping cork with a live shrimp or mullet will get the attention of any fish in the area.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing Charters, reports that there has been an excellent blackfin tuna bite just past the break, where there are also large numbers of wahoo being caught. Trolling a variety of small artificial lures like tuna feathers, jets, and chuggers will tempt bites from the tuna. The wahoo will take an interest in large lures like dinner bells or live bluefish.
The billfish action has slowed recently, but anglers are still connecting with large numbers of sailfish inshore of the break and blue and white marlin further offshore.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet and pompano, as well as the occasional puppy drum coming over the rails.
The water is 79 degrees.
