Morehead City May 11, 2006
Shane Brafford, at Second To None Charters, reports that May has not provided much relief from the winds. However, there continues to be great success with the yellowfin tuna. Their size has been a bonus, with many of them running in the mid 50s to even 60 pounds.
Wahoos have also been plentiful. And just as you would expect, the gaffer dolphin have started to show up in good numbers. Blue and white continues to be the hot color combination. Boats have had success from the Big Rock to Swansboro Hole and from 40 to 70 fathoms.
Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and Tackle, reports that the bluefish have shown up in numbers. Fair numbers of sea mullet are being caught in the afternoon and night. A few black drum and gray trout have been caught. And a few small flounder are showing up.
Spots, including some big ones, have been caught on the east side of the front of the port wall.
Gray trout fishing is good around the Coast Guard Station and the high rise bridges. Night fishing around the bridges is producing good numbers, with many anglers catching their limit.
Red drum fishing is still very good. The North River and Middle Marsh areas are producing best. Remember, fishing is best 2 to 3 hours before and after high tide.
Bluefish are increasing in numbers off the beaches and in the inlets.
George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that pompano is being caught in the surf on cut shrimp and sand fleas. There are also some sea mullet still around.
Gray and speckled trout are around the Haystacks and in the inlet. Go with bait shrimp or artificials such as Berkley Gulp.
The spanish have moved in to the area. Try trolling the beach in 20’ of water.
They’re picking up a few small flounder. Fish the areas around the Coast Guard Station and in the inlet.
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder have been caught around the Fort Macon rock jetties. They’ve been running 1 to 3 pounds. Go with Gulp swimming grubs.
Big blues are being caught off the beach, around the piers, and at the rock jetty.
They also just started getting some spanish off the pier.
Speckled trout and red drum are up in the marshes. Most are fishing for them with artificials, but some are using cut bait as well.
Joyce, at Oceanana Pier, reports that they’ve been picking up sea mullet and blues. The blues have been getting bigger. At first they were 8-14”, but now they’re finding some big ones mixed in.
Larry, at Sportsmans Pier, reports that bluefish have been hitting well, with several caught weighing over 5 pounds.
They are also seeing several pompano caught weighing over 1 pound.
And anglers are finding black drum weighing as much as 7 pounds.
The sea mullet bite has been better at night, and they’re also picking up some small spots and croakers.
