Morehead City March 11, 2010
Dale Tycast with a citation 46 lb. wahoo he hooked near the Big Rock on a ballyhoo/sea witch combo. He was fishing with Mark Becker on the "Magician."
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that puppy drum and some flounder are feeding in the soundside creeks. Gulp baits and live mud minnows will attract their attention.
Schools of smaller reds are cruising through the Haystacks in the shallow water, but they’re not always feeding heavily. Anglers who want to hook the fish (instead of just look at them) must approach the schools stealthily in order to avoid spooking the fish and shutting down the bite.
The reds are also schooled up in huge numbers around the Cape Lookout Shoals. White Gulp baits and live mud minnows are fooling the reds.
Once the water temperature rises into the upper-50’s, anglers can expect the gray trout and whiting bite to turn on around the railroad tracks. Spec rigs tipped with natural baits like shrimp will fool both bottom feeders.
Off the beaches, anglers have found some action with black sea bass and some fat flounder around the Atlas Tanker.
The bass bite has also been good around the Big 10/Little 10 and the 210 and 240 Rocks, with some particularly big fish (3-5 lbs.) reported from the 305 Rocks. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits and jigging spoons will both tempt the bass to bite.
Offshore boats have reported some wahoo recently between the 90’ Drop and the Big Rock. March and April typically mark the beginning of good blue water fishing off the area, so anglers can expect the ‘hoo bite to improve as the month wears on. Some tuna and dolphin may begin showing up in the Gulf Stream as well. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will fool all the blue water pelagics.
Bayane Gerald and Alex Rickard, from Morehead City, with nine speckled trout (all 5-7 lbs.) they hooked while casting MirrOlures in the surf at Cape Lookout.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there have been some massive schools of red drum feeding in the shallows around the Cape Lookout Shoals. Pearl white Gulp baits and swimbaits are fooling most of the reds, and anglers have also landed a few on topwater plugs recently.
As the water warms up over the upcoming weeks, anglers can expect some whiting and pufferfish to show up in the surf and along the piers. Cut shrimp on bottom rigs will take both fish.
Bluefish should be right behind the whiting and puffers.
Pete, of Energizer Sportfishing, reports that yellowfin tuna are just beginning to make a showing in the blue water off Morehead, and the bite should improve over the coming weeks. Wahoo have been feeding in the Gulf Stream all winter long and are still around, and anglers can expect to see the season’s first dolphin and billfish as March wears into April.
Ballyhoo rigged under sea witches in blue/white, chartreuse/white, and pink color combinations are top baits for all the blue water fish, and the best action will be around the harder water temperature breaks in the area.
Beth Reid and Gwyn McCabe, of Morehead City, with a pair of red drum they hooked on green grubs in the shallows east of Cape Lookout.
Charles, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding action with big schools of red drum (most 27-34”) around the Cape Lookout Shoals. A variety of soft plastics and MirrOlure and Rapala hard baits will tempt bites from the reds.
The weather’s warming up, and spring fishing is just around the corner. Anglers can expect to find action with black sea bass and larger drum around the wrecks and rocks in 50-70’ of water over the next few weeks. Cut baits on bottom rigs should attract attention from both fish.
Large Hatteras bluefish (many 10-15 lbs.) and Atlantic bonito will be feeding near the wrecks soon as well, and anglers can hook them while casting soft plastics and other lures to fish feeding on the surface.
When pogy schools push into the Cape Lookout Shoals later in the month, anglers should be on the lookout for thresher sharks feeding in their midst.
