Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City June 5, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are putting together good catches of speckled trout, red drum, and flounder in the Haystacks and other marsh areas. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits under popping corks are producing plenty of action with all three species, and anglers are also hooking up with the reds and specks on topwater plugs.

Anglers are also finding some big trout (some to 9.5 lbs.) and slot red drum around Core Creek Bridge, and lighted docks throughout the Morehead area are producing some action with big specks for night fishermen. Gulps and mud minnows are getting most of the bites.

Anglers are finding some nice gray trout and a few specks at the railroad tracks and the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Green grubs, Stingsilvers, and glass minnow jigs are producing most of the fish.

Some big flounder have begun to feed along the base of the port wall, where anglers are catching them on Carolina-rigged mud minnows and finger mullet.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are running along the beaches and at the nearshore AR’s, and boats are hooking them while trolling bird rigs, Clarkspoons, and Drone spoons.

Cobia are showing up around Shackleford and in the hook of the cape. Pogies are scarce, so most boats are hooking the cobes while chumming at anchor with dead mullet.

There are also some cobia around the AR’s, and anglers are catching flounder and gray trout from the bottom here as well.

A few kings and some larger spanish and blues are feeding around AR-320 and 330.

The Big 10/Little 10 is still holding some king mackerel (most running 10-15 lbs.).

Bottom dropping at ledges on the east side of the shoals is producing some gag grouper, triggerfish, and some large sea bass.

Dolphin are feeding well around the 240 Rock and the 90′ Drop. The action is solid from the 90′ Drop to the Big Rock, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on skirted ballyhoo. Out at the Rock, the dolphin are running larger than inshore, and anglers are also hooking good numbers of wahoo.

 

Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent off the piers and along the beaches over the past week. Clarkspoons (especially #1 size in gold) trolled behind planers and trolling weights will get the spanish biting. Off the piers, anglers are hooking up on Gotcha plugs.

Some big bluefish (8-12 lbs.) have been mixed in with the spanish, and they are providing dogged fights on typical spanish tackle.

Boats are seeing cobia in all the usual spots around Lookout and Shackleford, but it’s been somewhat difficult to get them to bite recently. There haven’t been many pogies around, so anglers are forced to use bluefish, pinfish, croakers, and other less desirable baits. Some anglers have had success sight casting bucktails to the cobes, but they’re burning gas to find them.

The dolphin bite has been consistently good around the 14 Buoy lately, with good action offshore to the Big Rock as well. Skirted ballyhoo have been producing most of the bites.

Out at the Rock, some wahoo are mixed in with the dolphin, and boats are getting good numbers of shots at sailfish and blue marlin as well.

 

Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that dolphin fishing remains fantastic all over the area’s offshore waters this week. Big gaffers are making up the majority of the catch, and ballyhoo under blue/white and pink/white skirts are drawing most of the attention. The bite has been hottest recently in the shallower water from 16-23 fathoms.

Boats are picking up a few wahoo per trip as well, and though most are smaller fish, the Fight N Lady did pick up a 70 lb. stud last week.

 

Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are finding fast action with bluefish (still some large Hatteras blues) and spanish mackerel. Gotchas have been getting the most attention.

Bottom fishermen are decking a few flounder on live baits.