MOrehead City June 9, 2005
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the cobia bite is still strong behind the Hook and Shackleford Banks, and on Rough Point (just outside the inlet). The blues are all over. Most are small, but there are still a few big ones mixed in. The spanish are around, but not as prevalent as the blues. The schools of spanish are moving around but guys have been finding them.
The weekend billfish bite was great, with numerous releases of whites, sails, and blues.
Jimmy, at Triple “S” Pier, reports that they’ve been “killing” the blues, with most in the 1 to 1.5 lb. range. The big blues have slowed down this week. They’re catching the occasional spanish, including a 4 lb. 5 oz. spanish that’s now on their leader board. The bottom fishing has slowed down. They’ve caught only a few spots and mullets. Several cobia have been spotted around the piers, but none landed to date.
Jas, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that they’re catching blues all the time. There’s been a fair amount of spanish mixed in with the blues. The bottom fishing continues to be slow (becaude of all the blues in the water). There have been a few catches of hogfish and spots. They’ve hooked a few flounder of mixed size, some keepers and some not. The couple of cobia caught have all been small.
George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that blues are all over the cape, piers, surf, and artificial reefs. Most are small but there are some big blues and spanish mixed in. The flounder bite has been picking up (but it’s still slow) in the inlets, but there hasn’t been much for flounder reported from the surf. The cobia fishing remains good and even seems to be getting better. They’re at the usual spots. The piers have been hooking them, but there hasn’t been any landed.
Offshore, they’re catching quite a few kings. Most are 17 to 20 lbs. There’s also lots of dolphin, and some big wahoo to be found.
Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and Tackle, reports that the cobia fishing has been red hot. He’s recorded catches of cobia of all sizes. They’re hooking several smaller ones. Some guys are landing multiple fish in the 30 lb. class. The bigger ones coming in have been 68, 85, 93, and 109 lbs. Go with dead menhaden, squid, or blue crabs.
The spanish bite has slowed because of the heavy rain this week. There remains to be tons of blues in the area.
The offshore bite has been primarily gaffer-sized dolphin. Saturday the billfish bite was on fire, with sails, whites, and blues hooked. There were about 20 releases recorded, and one boat had a grand slam on the day.
