Morehead City June 14, 2012
Tracie Deal with a 25 lb. bull dolphin she hooked while trolling near the Big Rock during the Lady Big Rock tournament while fishing with Capt. Mike Webb on the "Pelagic."
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that there are still some cobia around, as anglers weighed in several last week from the inlets and inshore behind Shackleford Banks and around Morehead City. Live and dead baits on bottom rigs have been producing the lion’s share of the cobes this season.
The chopper bluefish have for the most part moved on, but there are still a few feeding in the inlets and the ocean. Big schools of smaller bluefish (1-3 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas and will attack nearly any bait or lure.
The spanish mackerel bite has been a bit tough lately, but anglers are still putting together some good catches while trolling Clarkspoons. Trolling deep with planers has been producing most of the fish lately. One angler did weigh in a 5.5 lb. spaniard caught on a live bait last week, so the larger fish should be on their way.
Flounder are feeding at nearshore structure like AR-315 and 320. Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktails are the most effective flounder foolers in the ocean.
The flatfish bite is also turning on inshore around the inlets, bridges, port wall, and channels near Morehead. Smaller bucktail/Gulp combos or live mud minnows on Carolina rigs will attract attention from the flounder inshore.
Speckled trout are feeding in the Haystacks, and anglers reported good catches last week (with some limits and fish to 4+ lbs.). Live mud minnows and Gulp baits fished beneath popping corks are an excellent way to fool the specks.
Sheepshead fishing gets better by the week, and anglers are connecting with the fish around bridge and dock pilings, the port wall, and other hard, vertical structure. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are tempting them to bite.
Kevin Aman, of Newport, NC, with 23.5 and 28.5 lb. cobia that bit menhaden on bottom rigs near Morehead City. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is still solid between the 90’ Drop and Big Rock, with some fish scattered inshore of there around the 14 Buoy. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are producing plenty of action with the dolphin.
A few king mackerel were reported by anglers looking for dolphin around the 14 Buoy and Northwest Places last week.
Bottom fishermen are filling coolers up with grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and more at hard and live bottoms in the 30-35 mile range. The Atlas Tanker has also been productive lately. Squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel will tempt bites from all the bottom dwellers, and anglers can also hook up while working vertical jigs over the structure.
Cody, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that there’s been plenty of dolphin action around the 90’ Drop, Big Rock, and other blue water spots in the area. Some fish are working their way inshore of the break, but there hasn’t been much consistent action further in than the 14 Buoy. Several boats hooked Atlantic bonito while trolling for dolphin in that vicinity last week. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are putting the ‘phins in the boat.
Closer to shore, there’s been an excellent spanish mackerel bite between Beaufort Inlet and AR-315 recently, with boats that are trolling Clarkspoons behind planers hooking big numbers.
Pier anglers are reporting plenty of bluefish action with an occasional spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Around Fort Macon, surf anglers are hooking some gray trout, sheepshead, flounder, and big pigfish.
Michael Herring with a 9.4 lb. bluefish that he hooked in the Emerald Isle surf on the tail half of a pigfish.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers are still catching some large chopper bluefish while working topwater plugs along Cape Lookout Shoals.
Amberjacks are schooled up at structure in 50’ and deeper on both sides of the shoals. Anglers can hook them on live baits like menhaden or tempt them to bite topwater plugs when they’re feeding heavily for explosive surface action.
Inshore, anglers can expect to find some big speckled trout feeding around Point of Marsh, Turnagain Bay, Cedar Island, and other areas off the Core and Pamlico Sounds and Neuse River. Early mornings are the best time to target the specks, and when topwater plugs are most effective. Suspending lures like MirrOlure MR17’s will tempt bites later in the day and when the fish don’t want to feed on the surface.
Puppy drum are in the same areas and will pounce on the same baits.
Anita, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching some pigfish and a few puppy drum on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Some bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
