Morehead City – July 9, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that persistent winds have kept many boats out of the ocean over the past week, but anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel while trolling inside the inlets and behind Shackleford Banks. Clarkspoons are fooling most of the fish. Some are falling for casting lures like Glass Minnow jigs around the inlet as well.
Sheepshead fishing has been excellent lately, and anglers are reporting big numbers from a wide variety of inshore structure around Morehead and in Bogue Sound. Fishing live fiddler crabs or sea urchins on the bottom or dangling them next to the structure is the way to connect with the sheeps.
There’s also been good flounder action inshore this week (with some fish to 8+ lbs.). Most of the larger fish are falling for live and Gulp baits fished near structure like the port wall. Anglers are also hooking decent numbers of fish while drifting behind Shackleford on live and strip baits. The flounder action should still be good around nearshore structure in the ocean when anglers can get back out there. The best bets for the ocean flounder are Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktail jigs.
The rough weather has made for a good surf bite for red and black drum for anglers fishing along Atlantic Beach and at Fort Macon. Cut mullet and live mud minnows are producing the best action.
Nolan and Damon Clark, of Raleigh, with sheepshead they hooked on live sea urchins and fiddler crabs near bridge pilings at Atlantic Beach. Photo courtesy of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are hooking a mixed bag of summer bottom feeders like pinfish, pigfish, and croaker. Some flounder, bluefish, and black and red drum have been mixed in, along with plenty of sharks. All are taking an interest in shrimp and cut baits.
There’s also been a good flounder bite inshore around deeper marsh banks. Anglers are hooking the fish on Gulps and live mud minnows cast around the drop-off on falling tides.
Inshore anglers have also found some solid action with speckled trout (many 2-3 lbs.) and puppy drum in Core Creek, the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, and Core Sound, but it can take some searching to find the active fish. Live mud minnows and a variety of artificials are fooling the specks and reds.
Anglers who’ve been able to get offshore around the end of the shipping channel out to spots in the 15 mile range are finding plenty of action with king mackerel, slinger and bailer dolphin, and some large spanish mackerel. Both live baits and dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows pulled with skirts are fooling the mackerel and ‘phins. Drone spoons have also proven effective on the kings recently.
Braxton Davis and Mike Lopanski, of Morehead City, with a wahoo they hooked while trolling skirted ballyhoo at the Big Rock.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are hooking spanish mackerel while working metal casting lures around Beaufort Inlet and behind Shackleford Banks.
Soaking cut and live baits near inshore structure and around the inlet is producing action with some slot red drum and flounder.
The winds have kept many anglers out of the ocean recently, but they should be able to find action with spanish mackerel close to shore once it calms down. Amberjacks, king mackerel, and more are feeding at structure a bit further off the beaches and will bite live baits.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking some dolphin while trolling the Gulf Stream off Beaufort Inlet, and increasing numbers of wahoo are around as well. Several yellowfin tuna also fell for trollers’ baits last week. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are tempting the fish to bite.
Wade, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a few flounder and plenty of croaker while bottom fishing.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel when the water cleans up.
