Morehead City May 24, 2012
Daron Huddleston, from Mooresville, NC, with a 10 lb. sheepshead that bit a shrimp in the surf off South Core Banks.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching some cobia between Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout, but the bite hasn’t been incredible, likely due to the recent windy weather and lack of bait. Anglers are hoping the tropical low pressure system moving offshore will push some bait inshore and improve the bite. Anglers have been able to sight-cast to a few fish, but bottom fishing with menhaden near Beaufort and Barden’s Inlets has produced most of the fish that anglers have caught lately.
Sea mullet are still feeding in the shipping channel, and anglers are finding plenty of action with gray trout from Beaufort Inlet inshore to the railroad tracks. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp or jigging lures like Stingsilvers will tempt bites from the grays and sea mullet.
The speckled trout bite is somewhat slow locally, but anglers are hooking a few in the Haystacks. There’s also been a decent speck bite in the Neuse River. Live mud minnows or suspending baits like Yo-Zuri 3D shrimp are the ticket to trout hookups.
Like the specks, puppy drum have been a bit slow, but a few are coming from the Haystacks and the inlets. Live and cut baits or Gulps and other soft plastics will tempt bites from the reds when anglers find them.
Flounder are moving inshore, and anglers found flatfish action around the bridges, the port wall, and ICW docks last week. Live mud minnows or Gulp baits are producing most of the flounder inshore. They’re also biting at AR-315, 320, and other nearshore structure, where a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a Gulp bait is the way to go.
Sheepshead are also making an appearance around the port wall and other inshore structure (with fish to 7 lbs. weighed in last week). Anglers can tempt the sheeps to bite fiddler crabs or sea urchins.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding in Beaufort Inlet and within a few miles of the beaches. Anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs and while casting small metal jigs at schooling fish.
Offshore, the dolphin bite has been phenomenal lately (with some 50+ fish days). Anglers are finding the fish around the Rise, 14 Buoy, 90’ Drop, and Big Rock, and they’re tempting them to bite ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures.
A few blackfin tuna and blue marlin have been mixed in with the dolphin around the Big Rock.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with grouper and triggerfish while dropping baits to structure in the 100’ range. Squid, sardines, cigar minnows, and a variety of other baits are tempting bites from the grouper and triggers, and anglers can also hook them while working vertical jigs like Blue Water Candy Roscoes.
Paul, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that the bluefish bite has been excellent off the piers lately (though the big choppers have become scarce). Gotcha plugs have been producing most of the fish.
The rough and dirty water lately has turned the spanish mackerel bite off, but they should be back on track when it calms down.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are hooking up with decent numbers of pompano while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Mike, Dominick, and Dom Lesserra with 43 and 51 lb. cobia that bit dead menhaden on bottom rigs at Cape Lookout. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Cobia fishing’s been a bit slow, but there should still be good numbers around.
Flounder are feeding at the AR’s and other nearshore structure within a few miles of the beaches. Gulp baits on bucktails are the way to go for the flatties in the ocean.
Dolphin fishing is still good for boats making the run to blue water, but it’s slowed down slightly since a phenomenal bite last weekend. Trolling skirted ballyhoo around weedlines and temperature breaks is the way to hook up with the dolphin.
Stephen, of Bill Collector Charters, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of gaffer dolphin while trolling ballyhoo along weedlines and temperature edges in the Gulf Stream off Beaufort Inlet.
Some blackfin tuna, wahoo, and billfish (including spearfish and blue and white marlin) are feeding alongside the dolphin and falling for ballyhoo as well.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that there are still plenty of cobia to the south of the area, so the cobia bite should remain on through June. Anglers can soak live and dead baits around the inlets, but it’s more exciting to go looking for the fish and sight-cast to cobes that anglers see cruising on the surface. Bucktail jigs with large soft plastic trailers are the best lures.
Flounder fishing is still good at the nearshore AR’s, and bucktails tipped with Gulp baits will tempt them to bite.
The flatfish are also feeding in the inlets and marshes, and live baits or soft plastics will fool them inshore.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are looking for meals around Point of Marsh, South River, and the area in between. They’ll bite topwater plugs in the very early morning hours, and then soft plastics or MR17 MirrOlures later in the day. Cut and live menhaden are also good choices when the reds are being finicky.
Anita, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have caught some pompano and a few sea mullet while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish while working Gotchas.
