Morehead City June 6, 2013
Steve Smith, Ryan Hill, and Gary Mann, of Morehead City, with a 31 lb. blackfin tuna they hooked one mile off Atlantic Beach while sight-casting for cobia. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still finding some speckled trout and puppy drum in the Haystacks, Core Creek, and the Newport River (where some 5-6 lb. specks have been hooked recently). A few flounder are in the same areas, and anglers are hooking all three on Gulp baits, live mud minnows, and MR17 MirrOlures.
Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks and the Atlantic Beach Bridge. They’re taking an interest in jigging lures like Stingsilvers and curlytail grubs.
Anglers are also picking up some grays along with sea mullet, pigfish, croaker, and other bottom feeders in the turning basin on spec and bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Sheepshead have shown up around the port wall, where sea urchins and fiddler crabs are tempting them to bite.
Surf casters fishing around the Fort Macon jetty are connecting with more sheepshead, flounder, and red and black drum on shrimp, mullet, and Gulp baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding in the inlet and along the beachfront, where trollers are catching big numbers on Clarkspoons.
The cobia bite is still going (with good numbers of fish to 50+ lbs. weighed in recently). Anglers are hooking the cobes while sight-casting to cruising fish and bait balls and while bottom fishing with menhaden in the inlets.
Flounder fishing has turned on around nearshore structure in the ocean like AR-315, 320, and 330, where 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are producing plenty of action with the flatfish.
Black sea bass have opened to harvest, and anglers are hooking big numbers at bottom structure like the AR’s and 210, 240, and 305 Rocks. The grouper bite has also been on around the rocks and other offshore structure. Squid, cigar minnows, and a variety of live and cut baits will get attention from the bass and gags.
King mackerel reports are starting to trickle in from the Beaufort shipping channel and AR-285 east of the shoals. Live baits like menhaden and dead cigar minnows will attract attention from the kings.
A dolphin was landed at AR-315 last week, and anglers saw multiple fish as close in as the Beaufort sea buoy. The bite is still wide open from the 14 Buoy on out to the Big Rock and other blue water hotspots.
Alex Mikels with a black drum that inhaled a fiddler crab while he was kayak-fishing in Taylor’s Creek near Beaufort.
Wahoo action remains consistent as well around the Big Rock and Rise. Medium ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the ‘phins and wahoo.
Cody, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with solid catches of black sea bass at just about all offshore structure, with the Northwest Places particularly hot.
The cobia bite has cooled a bit, but anglers are still sight casting to fish around bait balls just off the beaches and connecting with a few while bottom-fishing with menhaden near the inlets.
Spanish mackerel action remains hot, and most of the fish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons and squid rigs behind #1 planers. Slow-trolling with small live baits is producing some larger fish.
Offshore, the dolphin bite remains hot from the 90’ Drop and 14 Buoy on out to the Big Rock. Skirted medium ballyhoo and cedar plugs are producing plenty of action with the ‘phins.
Surf and pier fishermen are hooking up with sea mullet, black drum, puppy drum, sheepshead, bluefish, pigfish, croaker, and more. Most of the fish are falling for shrimp and cut baits on double-hook bottom rigs.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding in Core Creek, where anglers are casting Gulp baits, as well as live shrimp and mud minnows, with success.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that dolphin fishing remains excellent, with plenty of gaffers still feeding around weedlines, temperature breaks, and other irregularities in the blue water. A few wahoo and blackfin tuna are in the mix, and all are falling for ballyhoo paired with sea witches and other skirted lures.
Blue and white marlin are feeding a bit further offshore (100-150 fathoms) and will also take an interest in trolled ballyhoo or larger skirted lures.
Houston, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs when the water’s clear.
Bottom fishermen are decking some croaker, sheepshead, and sand sharks.
