Morehead City May 26, 2005
George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that big blues are the main action, with most catches coming off of the surf and from the piers. He’s weighed in blues up to the 12 pound class. Most are smaller, averaging 2 lbs. The most common lure for the blues has been the Gotcha plug with a red head and white body. The spanish mackerel have started to move in, but they aren’t really here yet. There have also been a few spots and sea mullets coming from the surf.
Trolling just off the beach is producing numerous catches of smaller kings. You can also go to AR 315 for blues and kings.
A couple of keeper flounder have been caught out in the inlet, primarily on live mullet minnows and mud minnows.
Joe, at Joe’s Pro Bait and Tackle, reports that AR 315 and AR 320 have had lots of bonito and small kings. Most of the kings are the smaller snake kings, but there have been a few that weighed up to 25 lbs. The AR’s have also had lots of bluefish with an occasional spanish.
The mid-range areas have had lots of kings (running bigger than the closer AR’s). Look for the average king to be 15 to 25 lbs.
The strong spanish run hasn’t moved on the beaches yet. The water really needs to be about 72 degrees; however, look for the spanish to be strong by Memorial Day weekend.
The cobia have been scattered. There was a report of an 88 lb. cobia caught at the Cape Lookout hook. The cobia fishing should also get red hot with the water temperatures warming.
Offshore there has been lots of gaffer dolphin. The tuna bite has slowed considerably, with the fish moving north, but there has continued to be good numbers of wahoo.
Larry, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that they’ve been seeing blues and more blues. Most are in the 1.5 to 2.5 lb. class. However, they did see several blues weigh in the 7 to 9 pound class. There was a big run of spanish on Thursday, but otherwise the spanish fishing remains a little scattered. And the bottom fishing hasn’t been very strong lately because of all the blues in the area (and most people fishing are targeting blues and not bottom fishing). Nighttime has been the best time to pick up a few sea mullet. The pier has also seen some keeper flounder, black drum weighing up to 5 lbs., and a puppy drum that weighed 3 lbs.
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that 5 or 6 cobia catches happened over the weekend. There have been numerous blues caught, with most in the 1 to 3 lb. range. A few bonito are still in the area, and the spanish fishing has been hit or miss.
The panfish bite (gray trout, sea mullet, hogfish, pompano, flounder, etc.) has been steadily improving. The fish are from the surf out to about 1 mile. If the water clarity is good, then they’re right on the beach. If the water clarity isn’t good close in, then head out a little to find better water and then the fish.
Offshore, the yellowfin bite has slowed down, but the dolphin fishing has picked up tremendously. There have also been scattered billfish, with catches of blue marlin and sails reported.
Dobey, at Triple “S” Pier, reports that the pier recently landed a 54 lb. cobia. They also saw two blues in the 15 lb. range. A couple of black drum came in weighing 7 lbs. They had one gray trout weigh in at 1.5 lbs., but most have been smaller. The spanish have been 1 to 3 lbs., but they aren’t biting on a regular basis. There have been lots of blues in the 1 to 2 lb. range. They have also had a few spots, and some sea mullet have been biting at night.
