Morehead City June 2, 2011
Joe Dorman, of Dunn, NC, with a cobia that fell for a 2 oz. Blue Water Candy Cobia Jig near Cape Lookout while he was sight-casting to fish with Capt. Charles Brown of Old Core Sound Guide Service.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the cobia fishing has slowed a bit on the beach, but anglers are running into some cobes around AR-315 and other nearshore structure. Bucktail jigs tipped with large soft plastics should tempt bites from the cobia if anglers see any.
The flounder fishing remains solid at AR-315, 320, and other nearshore areas. Gulp-tipped bucktails are the way to go for the flatfish in the ocean. Along with flounder, anglers have been landing some keeper gag grouper around AR-330.
The inshore flounder fishing is also improving, with anglers starting to see some larger fish around the port wall and other inshore structure. Live mud minnows or finger mullet are top choices for the flounder inshore.
Spanish mackerel trolling is still solid along the beaches (with plenty of bluefish mixed in) for anglers trolling Clark and Drone spoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Red drum have been a bit scarce lately, but anglers are connecting with some in the marshes of Core Creek and the Newport River. Topwater plugs and live mud minnows under float rigs are fooling the reds.
Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks and other deep inshore structure, where Stingsilvers or live baits will tempt them to bite.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is still excellent, with good action reported around the 14 Buoy, 90’ Drop, Rise, and the Big Rock recently. Trolled ballyhoo are the way to go for the ‘phins, and anglers are also picking up a few wahoo and sailfish while pulling them.
Dolphin have been reported as close inshore as AR-320, so some are on the move inshore from the break.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that dolphin fishing has picked up a bit over the past week, with the best action reported between the 90’ Drop and the Big Rock last week. Some wahoo and a few sailfish are mixed in with the ‘phins, and all are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.
Cobia seem to be moving off to the north, but anglers are still picking up a few while bottom fishing with dead baits and sight-casting off Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout.
Tom Wiecek, of Winston-Salem, NC, with a citation-class red drum he caught and released after it fell for a live mehaden off Beaufort Inlet. He was fishing with Brian and Mark Vandersea on the "Double Dutch."
Spanish mackerel fishing is still solid for boats trolling small spoons around the inlets and beachfront, and some large chopper bluefish are mixed in with the spaniards.
The flounder bite is still on at nearshore structure off Beaufort Inlet, and the flatfishing is improving inshore, with anglers putting together some good catches while drift-fishing channel edges with live mud minnows. Larger flounder will begin feeding near the port wall in the coming weeks, where anglers can target them with larger live baits.
The red drum bite has been a bit slow, but anglers are finding some in the marshes off the Neuse River and in Core Creek.
Sheepshead are staging on inshore structure like the Cape Lookout jetty, the port wall, and the bridges, and the bite should only get better as the water continues to warm. Fiddler crabs, sea urchins, and clams will all attract attention from the sheeps.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with pigfish, croakers, and a mixed bag of other bottom feeders in the inlet and turning basin.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that blackfin tuna are feeding on the surface up and down the break off Beaufort Inlet. Some dolphin are chasing bait in the same areas, and increasing numbers of billfish (mostly white marlin with a few blues and sails mixed in) are around as well. Skirted ballyhoo will attract attention from all the blue water predators.
Closer to the beaches, dolphin are starting to move inshore from the Gulf Stream and are beginning to feed at some of the wrecks and structure east of Lookout Shoals.
A few cobia are still feeding around bait balls off Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout. Some large red drum are tracking the same bait, but the balls have been harder to find over the past week.
Spanish mackerel trolling has slowed a bit, but there are still some to be had for boats pulling small spoons within a few miles of shore.
Jeff Domcik and Penn Clark, of Raleigh, with a 4' hammerhead shark they hooked on a live pogy while fishing around bait balls off Cape Lookout with Capt. Chris Sewell of Fishead Charters.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the citation-class red drum will be moving in Ocracoke Inlet over the next few weeks and feeding in their summertime haunts in the Pamlico Sound. There are still some feeding on menhaden off Cape Lookout, and anglers can tempt them to bite Blue Water Candy cobia jigs with large plastic trailers.
Tarpon are showing up on the beaches to the south, so it won’t be long until they’re making their way past Cape Lookout and into the sound as well.
Inshore, puppy drum are feeding at the flats behind Portsmouth Island, and anglers who can locate the schools should be able to hook up while sight-casting topwater plugs.
Alice, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking some croaker and pigfish on shrimp.
