Morehead City – May 25, 2017
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that cobia season is now getting into full swing. The bait balls have been hard to find, so most fish are being located while they’re free swimming or under turtles. Bowed-Up, Meat Hog, and Sea Striker Bug Eye bucktails have been doing the trick, along with the Savage Real Eel in light brown. For those fish that just won’t bite, live eels will be the ticket.
Anglers are also anchoring up and bait fishing for the cobia, and most of the fish caught off the bottom so far have been at Cape Lookout in Barden’s Inlet (and a few from Beaufort Inlet). A few of the cobia weighed in have been in the 70-80 lb. range, and one fish was just under the 100 lb. mark.
Jim Marsh, of Harkers Island, with a puppy drum caught in the North River Marsh area on a 4” Gulp bait. The fish weighed in at 7 lbs. and was 25” long.
Spanish fishing has been on fire this past week. The best action has been around the Oceanana Pier, around AR-315, and at Cape Lookout along the edge of the shoals. Anglers are catching them by trolling Clarkspoons and the new local Bowed-Up spoons. Most spanish have been around 15”, but larger ones are mixed in, including some going as heavy as 6 lbs.
Surf fishing has produced small blues mixed with keeper-sized spanish this past week. The lure of choice has been the Gotcha plug.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been solid in the early morning hours. The larger speckled trout have come on topwater lures around Core Creek and out in to the Neuse River.
The redfish bite seems to change daily, as the fish continue to transition into their summer pattern. It appears that the reds are moving from the creeks out into open water.
Offshore, the dolphin have moved in to the Big Rock area, and some have been as close as the 14 Buoy this past week. The catch is including bailers and gaffers, with more than a few fish over the 30 lb. mark weighed in.
Wahoo have been scattered in the same areas, but the bite has slowed down.
In the 35-40 mile range, the grouper and triggerfish bite remains consistent on the ledges. Cut squid and fresh menhaden are working best for the bottom fish. Black sea bass and snapper can be found in the same areas.
Further offshore, the blue marlin have started to show up.
Isabelle Acree, fishing with both her dad and grandfather, with her first bluefish. She caught the blue while sight casting with light tackle near Cape Lookout.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite is starting to pick up, and most of the fish are biting mud minnows.
Redfish are still feeding around the area and are willing to take a mud minnow or soft plastic.
In the surf, anglers are hooking sea mullet and black drum on fresh shrimp. Pigfish and spanish have also been taken from the pier.
Right off the beach, the spanish bite has been solid. Most anglers are hooking the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons. Expect to catch a few bluefish (1-3 lbs.) mixed in.
The cobia action around Barden’s Inlet is starting to heat up. Most anglers have found success fishing with menhaden on the bottom, but when the conditions are right, sight fishing around turtles is an option.
The blue marlin bite has kicked off, and most anglers are trolling plugs to hook up with these giants. Gaffer dolphin have also been caught in the same area around Big Rock.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that it’s cobia time. When the conditions are right, tossing bucktails or live pogies to the cobes is the desired method for success. When the bait balls aren’t around, sight fishing on turtles has been the ticket.
While looking for cobia, lots of spanish have been in the area to sight cast to. Anglers have been hooking plenty of 16-20” fish on Stingsilvers and other flashy lures. The spanish have been spotty, though.
Bottom fishing in the 80-90’ depths has been producing gags, big grunts, triggerfish, and keeper sea bass mixed in with smaller sea bass.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that the offshore bite has been steady this past week. Boats have been targeting 30-40 fathoms for dolphin. Pulling medium-sized ballyhoo on sea witches has been the key to success.
The blue marlin are making appearances in the 100 fathom range. The best way to target these fish is to troll large ballyhoo on Ilanders.
Amanda, of Oceanana Pier, report that anglers on the end of the pier are now seeing some larger spanish. Most of the quality fish are coming on Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers.
There’s also been a steady sea mullet bite, with most fish coming on cut shrimp.
