Morehead City June 30, 2011
Greg Shoe, of Durham, NC, with a 26" red drum he that fell for a live shrimp off the Sheraton Pier in Atlantic Beach.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are connecting with some red drum in the Haystacks, around the Cross Rock in the Newport River, and in the backwaters off Core Creek (where good numbers of upper-slot fish are present). Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and live shrimp and mud minnows are all attracting attention from the reds.
Some speckled trout and flounder are mixed in with the reds, and anglers are also landing speckled and gray trout and flounder around the Atlantic Beach Bridge at night. Live shrimp and mud minnows fished on slip-float rigs or Carolina rigs are attracting attention from the flatfish and trout.
The gray trout bite has also been solid around the railroad tracks, where Stingsilvers and live shrimp are getting the job done.
Anglers are also catching good numbers of flounder while drifting the inshore channels and fishing near the port wall and out at the nearshore reefs. Live mud minnows and finger mullet or Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits will get the job done on the flatfish.
Sheepshead are feeding along the port wall and at the bridge and dock pilings in the area. Sea urchins and fiddler crabs are the best baits for the sheepshead (with the larger fish showing a definite preference for urchins).
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the inlet and along the beaches, and boats have also done well with them while trolling behind Shackleford when the ocean’s rough. Small Clarkspoons are the way to go for the spaniards.
King mackerel and some larger spanish mackerel are feeding in the shipping channel, and boats are hooking both on live menhaden near the Beaufort Inlet sea buoy. Both mackerel have also been feeding around the nearshore reefs.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some fat black sea bass and a few gag grouper around AR-330. Further out in the 210, 240, and 305 Rock areas, there’s been a solid grouper, sea bass, and triggerfish bite and plenty of big amberjacks. Live baits and dead cigar minnows are top choices for the grouper, and squid or cut baits will attract attention from the smaller bottom feeders.
Dolphin fishing is still decent between the 14 Buoy and 90’ Drop, and anglers have also encountered some large spanish mackerel in the area.
Michael Grice, of Newport, NC, with a citation 2 lb. pompano he hooked on shrimp in the Atlantic Beach surf. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that boaters are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel near the inlet and just offshore when the water’s clean. Clarkspoons and squid and bird rigs will tempt bites from the mackerel.
Surf and pier fishermen are connecting with a summertime mixed bag of pompano, spot, croaker, sea mullet, pigfish, and more. Shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs will get attention from all these bottom feeders.
Some flounder are also feeding in the surf zone, and they’ll bite live mud minnows and soft plastic baits.
The red drum bite is solid inshore in the Haystacks, Wards Creek, and Core Creek. The reds will strike live mud minnows and other baits or topwater plugs, Gulps, spinnerbaits, and other lures.
Sheepshead are still feeding strong around the port wall, the railroad tracks, and from the piers. Live fiddler crabs, sea urchins, and shrimp will attract attention from the sheeps.
Flounder fishing is still good in the channels behind Shackleford (but there are still plenty of throwbacks to weed through). Live mud minnows are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers can find action with speckled trout and puppy drum around the oyster reef in Core Sound, in Jarrett Bay, and while wading and fishing the sloughs near Cedar Island. Topwater plugs will produce results with both fish early in the mornings, and suspending hard baits or soft plastics will get their attention when the sun is higher.
Tarpon have shown up in the Pamlico Sound, and anglers have already released a few. Large dead and cut baits fished on the bottom will attract bites from the tarpon, and the fishery will only improve over the coming weeks.
Bull red drum have also made an appearance in the sound, and anglers can find them feeding on large schools of menhaden on the surface right now as they gorge themselves before spawning. Large bucktails will tempt bites from the big reds, and anglers should be careful not to run over the school with the boat to avoid spooking them.
Large king mackerel (some to 30-45 lbs.) are feeding at structure east of Lookout Shoals, and dolphin are within 10 miles of the beach. Both will pounce on a live menhaden.
Steve Jones, Henry Dail, and Kevin Poole with dolphin that fell for ballyhoo while they were trolling the Gulf Stream off Barden's Inlet aboard the "Water Damage."
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that good numbers of dolphin have pushed inshore of the break, and boats may be able to find them within 20 miles of the beach. Some king mackerel have been in the same areas in recent weeks.
More dolphin are feeding on out to the offshore spots, and anglers also caught some blackfin tuna and saw and released several sailfish last week. Rigged ballyhoo will attract attention from the ‘phins, tuna, and sails.
Spanish mackerel trolling remains strong in and around Beaufort Inlet, where #00 Clarkspoons are producing most of the bites.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with a few spot, gray trout, and puppy drum while bottom fishing from the planks. Shrimp are producing most of the action.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish.
