Morehead City June 21, 2007
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and around the nearshore reefs. Boats trolling Clarkspoons, Yo-Zuri DD’s, and bird/squid rigs are enjoying the greatest success.
There are also plenty of snake kings feeding in the same areas as the spanish, with a few larger ones (up to 25 lbs.) mixed in. Frozen cigar minnows, live baits, and Yo-Zuri DD’s are producing king hookups.
Good number of dolphin are feeding between the 90’ Drop and Big Rock. Some of the dolphin are holding closer to shore around the 14, Northwest Places, and Big 10/Little 10. There are a lot of sailfish and some wahoo mixed in with the dolphin, and all will fall for a sea witch/ballyhoo combination.
The blue marlin bite has been excellent over the past week.
Red drum are feeding on shrimp and minnows all over the marshes. Some flounder are in the marshes, too, and anglers can hook up with drum and flounder by casting mud minnows on Carolina rigs, Gulp baits under popping corks, and spinnerbaits. The drum will also hit gold spoons and topwater plugs.
The flounder bite has been good in the ocean and behind Shackleford. Carolina-rigged live baits are the ticket to flounder bites.
Speckled trout are feeding up around Cedar Island, and they’re hitting live mud minnows. A few trout are coming from the ICW as well.
Sheepshead are holding tight to docks, bridges, and the port wall. Fiddler crabs, rock crabs, and sea urchins will all tempt the sheepshead to bite.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that blue water anglers are experiencing an excellent billfish bite. Sailfish, white marlin, and blue marlin are all feeding in the Gulf Stream, and they are spread out between Hatteras and the Swansboro Hole.
Blue marlin have been the most prevalent of the three billfish species. Skirted ballyhoo are the standard billfish offerings; although, they will take an interest in a variety of natural baits and lures.
Dolphin are feeding inshore of the 14. Boats are catching good numbers of dolphin by trolling cigar minnows and small ballyhoo.
Teenager kings are feeding at the Northwest Places and the Big10/Little 10. The kings haven’t quite made it to AR 315 and AR 320 yet, but they should be chasing bait at the reefs soon.
Some flounder are feeding at the AR’s, but the flounder bite is not great.
Spanish mackerel are around, but the weekend boat traffic has the schools staying deep for most of the day. Troll Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers early and late in the day for the best chances of hooking up with the spanish.
Cobia fishing is slacking off, but anglers are still hooking up with a few cobia in the Hook and up and down the beaches. Chumming in the inlet or in the Hook while fishing dead menhaden both on the surface and bottom remains the best way for anglers to get cobia bites.
Surf and pier fishermen are catching whiting, pompano, and pigfish, along with lots of blues. Bottom rigs baited with cut bait and shrimp will get attention from these species.
Inshore anglers are catching some trout, drum, and flounder in the creeks and marshes. Float-rigged or Carolina-rigged mud minnows will draw strikes from all three.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports excellent fishing for dolphin extending from the 14 area to the Big Rock. A solid dolphin and wahoo bite was taking place out in 100-200 fathoms offshore of the Rock last week. Skirted ballyhoo in blue/white, red/black, and purple/black will get strikes from both fish.
Area billfishing has been fantastic lately, with boats releasing sailfish, white marlin, and blue marlin. The bite has been spread out through area waters, with boats encountering billfish from the Big Rock up to Hatteras.
Anglers should include more naked ballyhoo in the spread to get attention from the whites and sails, with some large Black Bart lures thrown in to attract the big blues.
Ken, of Swell Rider Charters, reports that king mackerel are on the feed at AR330 and 340. Most of the fish are 6-10 lbs. and are falling for Strech 25’s and Deep Divers.
Slow trolling live baits and cigar minnows has produced a few larger fish.
A few big spanish mackerel are feeding in the same areas.
Willis, at Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishermen are enjoying a steady pick of whiting, spot, and flounder. Cut shrimp is the best bottom bait.
Anglers are catching some nice sheepshead (up to 8 lbs.). Sea urchins and barnacles have accounted for most of the sheepshead.
