Morehead City – May 7, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that bluefish have invaded the inshore waters and anglers are hooking them in the inlets and along the beachfront throughout the area. The blues will bite a variety of baits or metal casting and trolling spoons.
Justin Nabors and Levi and Rany Kottwitz with dolphin and a wahoo they hooked on ballyhoo and Iland Lures while trolling off Beaufort Inlet near the Big Rock. Photo courtesy of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Sea mullet are still feeding in the turning basin, Beaufort Inlet, and the surf zone. Shrimp and Fish Bites baits pinned to bottom or spec rigs are the ways to connect with the mullet.
Gray trout are plentiful in the same areas as the mullet and will pounce on the same baits.
Flounder fishing is improving inshore and at nearshore structure out in the ocean. Most of the flatfish are taking an interest in bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits or live mud minnows.
Several cobia have been spotted nearshore already, so it shouldn’t be long until anglers see a big push of the fish around Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout. Casting bucktail jigs and live or imitation eels to fish that anglers spot or around schools of menhaden on the surface is the way to put a cobia in the boat. Anglers can also bottom fish near the inlets with live and dead baits with success.
Atlantic bonito and false albacore are chasing bait at nearshore structure off Cape Lookout and to the south. Birds working the surface of the water can help anglers find the schools, and casting small, flashy metal jigs around the activity is the best bet to hook up.
Surf casters fishing around Fort Macon are hooking plenty of sea mullet, black drum, puppy drum, and a few early pompano. Shrimp and cut baits will fool all the surf species.
Offshore, the dolphin have shown up, and boats trolling around the Big Rock have been hooking solid numbers. Some wahoo are still feeding in the same area, and both the dolphin and ‘hoos are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishermen are hooking big numbers of black sea bass, triggerfish, and beeliners at structure 30-40 miles out. Grouper season is open as of May 1, and grouper will be looking for meals in the same areas. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will attract attention from the bottomfish.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, gray trout, and other bottom feeders in the turning basin and Beaufort Inlet. Most are falling for shrimp and Fish Bites on spec and bottom rigs.
Sheepshead have shown up around inshore structure like the port wall and railroad tracks. Anglers can tempt the sheeps to bite live fiddler crabs dangled close to their homes.
Surf casters are hooking plenty of sea mullet, a few early pompano, and puppy and yearling red drum. All will take an interest in shrimp and cut baits fished on bottom rigs.
Spanish mackerel are just beginning to show up for the summer, and big numbers of bluefish are feeding just off the beaches and inlets. Both will bite metal casting lures like Gotcha plugs or trolled spoons.
False albacore and Atlantic bonito are chasing bait just east of Lookout Shoals, with particularly good action around the Summerlin Reef last week. The same that lures anglers use for spanish mackerel and bluefish will tempt plenty of bites from the bonito and albacore.
Rumors are swirling about cobia close to the beach, but none have been landed as of yet. With warm temperatures in the near forecast, the cobes should show up very soon.
Offshore, boats continue to catch a few yellowfin tuna along with plenty of gaffer and slinger dolphin and a few wahoo. All the pelagics are falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Wayne, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been catching big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some black drum and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of gray trout around the bridges and port at Morehead. Metal and soft plastic jigs are fooling the fish, and the action’s been best around the slack higher tides.
Flounder are showing up at the nearshore AR’s and the port wall. Anglers can drop bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits to connect with the flatfish.
Several cobia have been seen along the beachfront already, and it shouldn’t be long until the main body of fish shows up nearshore. Anglers can hook them by sight casting to fish and bait balls or chumming and bottom fishing near inlets and shoals. Some large red drum may be around the bait balls and shoals as well.
Spanish mackerel have shown up and will be increasing in number in the coming weeks. Anglers can tempt the spaniards to bite metal casting jigs or trolled spoons and diving plugs.
Offshore, anglers are finding excellent dolphin fishing from the Rise to the Big Rock along with some wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish. Ballyhoo trolled with sea witches and Ilanders will fool the blue water fish, and running a bait deep with a planer increases anglers’ odds at a wahoo hookup.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the dolphin bite is heating up in the blue water off Beaufort Inlet. Boats also saw some yellowfin tuna action last week, and wahoo are still prowling the break as well. The pelagic predators are biting ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
