Morehead City June 27, 2013
Ryan Guthrie with a gag grouper and a 27″ red drum he hooked while bottom fishing east of Cape Lookout shoals at the Vietnam Rock with Capt. Marty Moore of Topwater Charters.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching a few cobia in the area, but the bite continues to slow down. Dead bait fishing on the bottom near the inlets is producing most of the action now, but anglers are still hooking a few by fishing menhaden pods out in the ocean.
Whenever they can find clean water, anglers are finding some decent spanish mackerel action while trolling Clarkspoons and daisy chain rigs behind planers and trolling weights. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in.
Sheepshead are on the feed around the local bridges and other inshore structure (with plenty of solid fish to 10+ lbs.). Fiddler crabs and sea urchins dangled tight to the structure are producing most of the action with the sheeps.
Flounder are feeding on nearshore structure like the AR’s, but rough weather has made them tough to get to lately. Anglers are connecting with some flatfish inshore near structure like the bridges and port wall and around the inlets. Bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits and live baits like mud minnows are both excellent choices for the flatfish.
Speckled trout are feeding around structure in Core Creek and the ICW, and anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and Gulp baits.
More specks and good numbers of red drum are feeding in the marshes like the Haystacks. Both will take an interest in topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and soft plastics and live baits under popping corks.
Criss Harrell, Travis Atkins, and Keith Blaylock, of Dawn Acres, NC, with sheepshead (to 8 lbs.) they hooked at the Morehead port wall on live fiddler crabs. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Surf casters are hooking good numbers of slot red drum around Fort Macon, with cut baits and live mud minnows producing most of the fish. Black drum are in the same area and biting shrimp.
Some flounder are also feeding along the beachfront (though many are small). Live mud minnows and Gulp baits dragged slowly along the bottom are producing most of the flatfish bites.
Bottomfish like sea mullet, pigfish, puffers, spot, croaker, and a few pompano are biting bloodworms and shrimp in the surf and from the pier.
Dolphin are still feeding in the Gulf Stream and have pushed inshore to spots like the NW Places and Big 10/Little 10. Trolling rigged ballyhoo and skirted lures is the way to put the ‘phins in the boat.
A few king mackerel are coming from spots on the east side of Lookout Shoals for anglers trolling dead baits and live menhaden.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with grouper, triggerfish, beeliners, and more while dropping squid and cigar minnows to spots like the 210, 240, 305, and 1700 rocks.
Plenty of sea bass are in the same areas, but they’ve also been biting well closer in at spots like the NW Places. They’ll bite a variety of natural baits or smaller vertical jigs.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that spanish mackerel are still in the area, but dirty water has them a bit scattered. Trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons in the cleanest water that anglers can find is the best bet for those looking to hook up with the spaniards.
Inshore, the speckled trout and puppy drum bite has been solid in the marshes. Topwater plugs are fooling some of both fish, and live shrimp are nearly irresistible.
Offshore, the charter fleet found a surprisingly decent yellowfin tuna bite between the 90’ Drop and the Big Rock Last week. Dolphin are in the mix as well.
Carl Wilson with a bull dolphin that bit a ballyhoo near the Big Rock while fishing with Capt. Casey Fiorini and Nick Nicholis on the “Sea Beagle.”
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the blue water action off Morehead remains hot. Trollers are connecting with some solid dolphin (not in huge numbers but quality fish) while pulling ballyhoo around the Big Rock and other hotspots in the area.
Some wahoo (again, not terribly many but large fish) are feeding in the same areas, and the fleet saw a decent yellowfin tuna bite around the Big Rock last week as well.
Blue and white marlin along with a few sailfish are feeding in deeper water (80-100 fathoms) with a few in closer.
All the blue water predators are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Taylor, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with puppy drum, croaker, pigfish, spot, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders on two-hook rigs baited with shrimp.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
And plug casters are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel in the morning hours.
