Morehead City – June 26, 2014
John Furman, of Pine Knoll Shores, with a 10.54 lb. sheepshead that bit a live sea urchin near the Morehead port wall. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good when the winds are low enough for boats to get out, with the Fort Macon area and shipping channel producing the best action. Most of the fish are falling for Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights, squid rigs, and mackerel trees. Anglers are also picking up some fish early and late in the day while casting metal lures around surface activity and diving birds.
Flounder fishing is improving inshore, where anglers are catching solid numbers of fish while drifting the channels behind Shackleford and Atlantic Beach. Some larger fish have been coming from the port wall and other heavy inshore structure. Live mud minnows and frozen finger mullet have been producing the majority of the flatfish recently, but anglers are also hooking good numbers on Gulp baits.
When the weather allows, the flatfish action is also excellent at nearshore structure like the AR’s, where anglers are hooking up on 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Speckled trout are feeding in Core Creek and other creeks and marshes inshore. Anglers are hooking solid numbers (with some 20”+) while working Gulp baits and on topwater plugs in the early morning hours.
Red drum are still on the feed in the marshes and creeks inshore as well, and anglers are hooking good numbers on spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and live and cut baits.
Large sharks are feeding around Beaufort Inlet and inshore, and anglers who want to battle one can hook up easily on live and cut baits.
A few cobia are still feeding inshore, and anglers are hooking them on dead menhaden in the sound behind Shackleford and Atlantic Beach.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around the bridges and port wall, and anglers can tempt them to bite live fiddler crabs or sea urchins.
Surf casters are finding a typical summer mixed bag of bottom feeders. The best bet right now for shorebound anglers is targeting flounder with Gulp baits or live mud minnows in the surf.
Andrew DeLuzio (age 15), of San Antonio, TX, with a 26 lb. dolphin that attacked a black sea bass he was reeling in near the 14 Buoy while he was fishin on the “6 Plus 1.”
Offshore, the excellent dolphin bite continues, and anglers have seen some as far inshore as the 14 Buoy. A few wahoo are mixed in with the ‘phins, and both are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid gag grouper action just east of Lookout Shoals with black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, and more in the mix. Live baits are tough to beat for the grouper and anglers can hook the smaller bottom feeders on cut baits or squid.
Amberjacks are schooling up around offshore wrecks and AR’s, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, vertical jigs, and (at times) topwater plugs.
Paul, of Freemans Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers saw some solid spot action from the pier and surf early in the week, with bloodworms producing the best catches. There’ve also been a surprising number of spadefish caught by surf and pier anglers recently. Some pompano, croaker, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders are mixed into the catch and biting the bloodworms and shrimp.
Big numbers of sublegal flounder are also feeding in the surf zone and around the inlets.
Spanish mackerel action has been solid for boaters trolling Clarkspoons around Beaufort Inlet and along the beachfront lately.
Edward Minshew with the 80 lb. cobia that took first place in the 3rd Annual Chasin’ Tails Cobia Challenge, held April 19-June 15 out of Atlantic Beach’s Chasin’ Tails Outdoors. The fish earned him $1,920, a Star/Penn rod and reel combo, and a tackle package.
Offshore, the dolphin action continues to be strong, with boats reporting solid catches from the 14 Buoy and 90’ Drop areas last week. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the ‘phins.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the gag grouper bite has been solid around bottom structure in 65-90’ of water off Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout. Live menhaden have been producing the best action with the gags.
Amberjacks are feeding at many of the same areas, and they will also pounce on the live baits.
There are still a few cobia around, with most that anglers are hooking coming inshore in the sounds.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding just off Beaufort Inlet, and anglers are hooking good numbers while casting metal jigs to fish chasing bait on the surface. Large spaniards (4-8+ lbs.) should be arriving any day now as anglers are already hooking them off Bogue Inlet. Live-baiting around nearshore structure like the AR’s is the way to go for the bigger fish.
Sabrina, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
