Morehead City June 10, 2010
Troy Simmons, of Fayetteville, NC, with a 10.55 lb. sheepshead that fell for a white 3" Gulp shrimp in the surf of Portsmouth Island.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding action with some healthy (3-5 lb.) speckled trout and upper-slot red drum in the Haystacks and other marshy areas. Gulp baits and live mud minnows are fooling most of the fish. More solid trout and red action has been reported in the Newport River around the Cross Rock and in South River.
Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks and the Coast Guard Station, and anglers can hook up with them while jigging lures like Stingsilvers.
Sheepshead are feeding around the railroad tracks, the port wall, and other hard structure inshore. Anglers are hooking up with them on fiddler crabs and sea urchins, which seem especially appealing to the larger fish (some to 8 lbs. have been weighed in this week).
Anglers are finding action with some large chopper bluefish around the Fort Macon rocks.
Some flounder are also feeding around the rocks, and anglers are catching big numbers around AR-315, 320, and 330. Live baits on Carolina rigs and Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are producing the lion’s share of action with the flatties.
Large (4-5+ lbs.) spanish mackerel should be feeding around the reefs as well, and the way to hook them is by free-lining small live baits on light tackle.
Anglers are reporting some king mackerel action around the NW Places, with an even better bite taking place at the 240 Rock. Anglers are hooking the fish on live baits and dead cigar minnows.
Bottom fishing’s been excellent in the same areas, with plenty of black sea bass around the NW Places. Grouper and triggerfish are dominating catches around the 210 and 240 Rocks.
The dolphin bite is still excellent, with most fish coming from between the 90’ Drop and the Rise recently. Skirted ballyhoo are producing the majority of the bites from the dolphin.
Steve Smith, Joel Morris, and Ryan Mille, from Atlantic Beach, with a limit of 30-40 lb. cobia they hooked while sight-casting bucktails at Cape Lookout.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishermen have been landing some solid pompano lately (with some citation 2+ pounders). Shrimp are fooling the pomps, and anglers are also picking up some whiting and pigfish in the suds.
A few red drum are also in the mix in the surf.
The Fort Macon rocks and the artificial reefs have been hosting some decent flounder fishing lately, with most fish falling for Carolina-rigged live baits.
Not many of the big chopper bluefish have been reported recently, but there should still be decent numbers around.
The cobia bite is slowing down, but a few are still in the area.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the dolphin bite remains excellent offshore of the area. The fish are holding around the color change from green to blue water, which can move inshore or offshore by the day.
Blue marlin and other billfish are feeding out a bit deeper, and a few yellowfins have been in the mix as well.
Ballyhoo rigged under Blue Water Candy Jags and Witches are the way to go for the dolphin, tuna, and billfish. Blue/white and pink/white are two of the hottest colors.
Scott Godwin, of Winterville, NC, with a wahoo he hooked on a skirted ballyhoo near the Big Rock while fishing with Matt Rast aboard the "Season Ticket."
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that there’s been solid spanish mackerel and bluefish action along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons is producing most of the action.
The dolphin bite offshore is still rock solid, with most of the action in 100 fathoms and deeper lately. Some wahoo are mixed in, and anglers are also getting some shots at white and blue marlin. Ballyhoo under blue/crystal and pink/blue sea witches are producing most of the action.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the king mackerel bite is turning on in the area, and anglers are hooking up with the fish (to 20-30 lbs.) around the Big 10/Little 10, NW Places, SW Ledges, and other spots west of the cape. The east side bite isn’t on fire yet, but there are some fish around the D Wreck and 30 Minute Rock.
A few cobia are still feeding around Cape Lookout.
Inshore, there are plenty of puppy drum and a few speckled trout feeding in the marshes, where topwater plugs and Gulps baits are fooling them into biting.
The flounder bite’s excellent in the inlets and the marshes, and live mud minnows or white Gulp baits are attracting their attention.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up some whiting, croaker, and spot on shrimp.
Plug casters were catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish (from bait sized to 10 lb. choppers) on Gotchas.
