Morehead City March 10, 2011
Joe McMahon, of Cary, NC, landed this 86 lb. wahoo after it struck a trolled ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream off Beaufort Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Cameron Guthrie on the "Impulse" out of the Morehead City waterfront.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding red drum along the beaches from Shackleford to Cape Lookout, with an especially good bite recently at the Lookout rock jetty. The jetty reds have been ranging from undersized to slot-limit fish, and live mud minnows, cut shrimp, and Gulp baits have all been producing plenty of action with them.
Speckled trout are feeding in the mainland creeks off Bogue Sound, especially down towards Emerald Isle (though they’re closed to harvest until June). Anglers can catch and release the specks while casting Billy Bay shrimp or other soft plastics.
As the water warms over the next few weeks, anglers can expect to see bluefish, gray trout, and sea mullet move into the area. The shipping channel and turning basin are good places to target all three, and a spec rig tipped with shrimp will tempt them to bite.
Flounder should also begin moving toward the beaches from offshore over the coming month, and anglers will likely find them staging at AR-315 and other nearshore structure. Live baits will catch the flatfish, but anglers working 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits should fare just as well if not better.
Bottom fishermen should be able to find some excellent action at offshore spots like the 90’ Drop and Atlas Tanker over the coming weeks, though sea bass and grouper must be released until their seasons open. Anglers should be able to connect with triggerfish, grunts, flounder, gray trout, and more tasty species to take home while dropping baited bottom rigs and jigs in those areas and others.
Not many boats have been offshore with the recent winds, but there should be some wahoo and other predators feeding in the vicinity of the Big Rock as long as anglers can find water temperatures approaching 70 degrees. Skirted ballyhoo and trolling lures will fool the ‘hoos.
Douglas Gorchess, of Swansboro, with the 8.69 lb. speckled trout he landed from shore that took first place in the Chasin’ Tails Outdoors Speckled Trout Challenge.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding sight-casting opportunities with schooling red drum around Cape Lookout Shoals. Gulp baits and other soft plastic lures will tempt bites from the reds.
Speckled trout are feeding in Schoolhouse Creek and other mainland creeks off Bogue Sound (though anglers must release them until June).
Dogfish are representing the vast majority of surf anglers’ catch right now, but the water only needs to warm a few more degrees before anglers will have shots at puppy drum, sea mullet, bluefish, and more. Cut shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs will fool the fish in the breakers.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers will find sight-casting opportunities with red drum (slot to over-slot) fish along Cape Lookout Shoals over the coming weeks. Bucktails tipped with curlytail grubs, spoons, and suspending plugs like X-Rap Subwalks will fool the reds. Some bluefish will be in the mix along the shoals as well, with small fish showing up first and soon followed by the big “chopper” blues.
Inshore, puppy drum and speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and marsh areas, and soft plastics will get their attention.
Jerry Powell and Randy Mulchi with a 50 lb. king caught near Cape Lookout Shoals. They were fishing on the charter boat "Rock & Roll" out of Morehead City.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that boats should be able to find some wahoo over the coming month while trolling around temperature breaks near the Big Rock and other blue water hotspots. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures are the best baits. As the water warms, the first dolphin of the year and hopefully some yellowfin tuna will join the blue water action.
