Morehead City November 17, 2011
Mike Rice, of New Bern, and Greg Salter, of Atlantic, NC, with a 54 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish at some structure east of Cape Lookout Shoals while they were slow-trolling with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are experiencing one of the best speckled trout seasons in recent memory (with huge numbers of small fish, but plenty of keepers to 3+ lbs. in the mix as well). The fish are feeding all over the area, but especially good reports have been coming in from the Radio Island, Fort Macon, Shackleford, and Cape Lookout rock jetties, as well as Core Creek, the Haystacks, and in the surf at Atlantic Beach and Shackleford. MirrOlures and a wide variety of soft plastics have been fooling most of the specks.
The flounder bite is still going around the port wall, and anglers caught decent numbers in the Haystacks last weekend as well. Not many have been looking for flatfish in the ocean, but there should be good numbers feeding at the AR’s and other structure as they transition from inshore to offshore. Live baits and Gulps fished on bucktails and jigheads are tough to beat for the flounder.
Many of the area’s red drum have moved out of the inlets and are feeding in the surf zone, but some resident fish are still looking for meals in the marshes around the Haystacks, Core Creek, and Carrot Island. Gulps, MirrOlures, and live baits are the way to go for the reds.
Gray trout are still feeding in the turning basin and around the railroad tracks, and Gulps or metal jigs will get their attention.
Sea mullet are schooling up from Cape Lookout to the Dead Tree Hole. Bottom rigs or spec rigs baited with shrimp or Fish Bites baits are tough for the mullet to turn down.
False albacore fishing has been up and down, with fish feeding on the surface around Cape Lookout on some days and tough to find on others. Casting small metal jigs, soft plastics, or flies to the surfacing fish is the way to hook them when anglers find the schools.
The king mackerel bite has improved, and anglers are reporting kings from the NW Places and Barge Wreck west of the shoals and the Atlas Tanker and other structure on the east side. Live menhaden and bluefish or dead cigar minnows will tempt them to bite.
Bottom fishing is still solid around structure 30+ miles offshore, where anglers are connecting with grouper, snapper, triggerfish, and more. Vertical jigs and bottom rigs baited with squid, cigar minnows, and sardines are producing most of the action.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still excellent in theGulf Stream, and it should stay solid as fall wears on. Most of the ‘hoos are taking an interest in ballyhoo under dark-colored trolling lures.
Don Beierwaltes, of Kinston, NC, with a 20" speckled trout that bit a firetail grub at the Cape Lookout rock jetty.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a good speckled trout bite in the surf lately (with plenty of short fish but also some 18-20” keepers). MirrOlures are tempting most of the bites from the specks in the breakers. Anglers are also connecting with good numbers of trout inshore.
Slot-sized red drum are also feeding in the surf zone and just inside the inlets, and soft plastics or bucktails will strike their fancy.
Flounder fishing has also been productive in the surf zone lately, as the fish seem to be moving out the inlets. Live baits or Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish inshore or in the suds.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is slow, but anglers are hooking solid numbers of wahoo when they’re able to run to the blue water (with some large fish to 70 lbs. in the mix). They’re falling for ballyhoo under trolling lures in the Gulf Stream, and also surprising anglers trolling king mackerel baits on the east side of the shoals.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the surf speckled trout bite has been excellent off Core Banks and Shackleford lately. Anglers are hooking the specks on D.O.A. and Fin-S soft plastics and while casting MirrOlures.
Some puppy drum are mixed in with the trout in the surf and will take an interest in the same lures.
Inshore the trout bite is also going strong. The specks are feeding in the marshes and creeks as they prepare to move into deep holes for the winter. Some puppy drum are alongside them and feeding in the deeper holes in the marshes. Soft plastics will tempt them both to bite, but larger hard baits like MirrOlure’s 52 series will help anglers target the larger fish (as will fishing at night).
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that the wahoo bite has been excellent when the Morehead fleet fishes theGulf Stream. A good number of sailfish have been mixed in, and both are falling for ballyhoo under skirted lures.
Closer to shore, the false albacore action around Cape Lookout has been excellent some days and nonexistent on others. The warmer weather this week should offer anglers a few more shots at the falsies before they head offshore. Casting flies or small metal jigs at fish feeding on the surface is the way to hook the speedy little tunas.
Inshore, there have been plenty of speckled trout (mixed from spikes to solid keepers) and black drum around, and both are falling for soft plastic baits.
