Morehead City June 7, 2012
Alyssa Wernett cradles a 4 lb. black drum that bit shrimp in the surf at Fort Macon while she was fishing with her father. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that when the weather has let boats get out of Bogue Inlet, the flounder bite at the nearshore reefs and live bottom has been solid lately. Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktails are the way to go for the flounder out in the ocean.
The big spanish mackerel haven’t shown up off Bogue yet, but it shouldn’t be long until they do. Small live baits on scaled-down king mackerel rigs are the best bets for the bigger spaniards when they show.
Inshore, anglers are still finding some red drum and flounder. The bite’s a bit slow, though, likely due to the rain and wind lately. Live baits are producing better results than artificials right now with tiger-side minnows and finger mullet top choices (if anglers can find them).
Sheepshead fishing gets better by the week (with some 4-5 lb. fish starting to show up). The fish are feeding around bridge and dock pilings, with the deeper docks producing better action. Live fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure are the best bets for the sheeps.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that the red drum action is still decent in the marshes and bays around Swansboro, but the fish are scattered in small groups instead of large schools. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and live baits on Carolina rigs have all been effective recently on the reds when anglers find them.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the marshes, and live shrimp or mud minnows on float and Carolina rigs are tempting bites from them. Deeper areas with some current are the best places to look for the specks.
Anglers are finding some healthy (to 5 lbs.) flounder around ICW docks in the area, but not in huge numbers. Most are falling for 5” Gulp Jerkshads on jigheads and bucktails.
Black drum are feeding around oyster beds and other hard structure in Queens Creek and the White Oak River (most 2-5 lbs.). Fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs are attracting plenty of attention from the bottom feeders.
Mate Joey Rivenbark prepares to release a 400 lb. class blue marlin that angler Tom Willer, of WV, fought to the boat south of the Big Rock after it attacked a ballyhoo under a blue/white sea witch while trolling on the "Dancin' Outlaw" with Capt. Thomas Wood.
Josh, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the dolphin bite remains strong offshore of Bogue Inlet. The fish are still feeding in all the usual blue water spots like the Swansboro Hole, Rise, and Big Rock. Anglers have also encountered decent numbers in the 20-40 mile range recently, so they’re beginning to move inshore from the Stream. Trolling skirted ballyhoo is producing most of the action.
Nearshore flounder fishing at the live bottoms and AR’s off Bogue Inlet has been solid lately, and there are plenty of large black sea bass (now legal to harvest) around the same areas. Bucktails tipped with Gulp baits will attract plenty of attention from both fish.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking some flounder and chopper bluefish on dead and live finger mullet along the beachfront.
Sea mullet are also feeding along the beaches and biting shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that some spot, sea mullet, and pigfish are taking an interest in shrimp pinned to bottom rigs.
Some spanish mackerel are biting Gotcha plugs and gold spoons off the pier in the early morning hours.
