Morehead City October 11, 2012
John Elkins, of Greensboro, NC, with a 7. 45 lb. flounder he hooked in the Haystacks marshes on a Redfish Magic spinnerbait. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the flounder bite at nearshore structure like AR-315 is still going strong, and both live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails are tempting them to bite. The flatfish action continues to do well around the port wall and other inshore structure around Morehead, and there’s been a good bite going in marshes like the Haystacks.
Speckled trout are feeding in deeper holes in the marsh creeks right now, and live shrimp and mud minnows, Gulp baits, curlytail grubs, and a variety of other artificials are tempting them to bite.
Big numbers of under-slot red drum are also working the marshes, with a few upper-slot fish in the mix.
Gray trout and sea mullet are feeding in the inlet and shipping channel, and spec rigs tipped with shrimp will attract attention from both.
Sheepshead are still looking for meals around the port wall, and live fiddler crabs will get their attention.
The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down a bit, but anglers are hooking some between the inlet and Cape Lookout and out along the shoals while trolling Clarkspoons and casting small metal lures. Some larger fish are still feeding around nearshore structure and biting live finger mullet.
False albacore are schooling and chasing bait in the Dead Tree Hole, around Cape Lookout, and along the Shoals. The same tactics that anglers use for spanish will fool the falsies.
King mackerel fishing is improving on the west side of the shoals, with fish reported around the Northwest Places, shipping channel, and around Cape Lookout. The best action is still on the east side around the 1700 Rock. Live baits and dead cigar minnows are fooling the kings.
Wahoo are still feeding strong in the Gulf Stream off the area, and anglers have put together good catches around the Rise, Swansboro Hole, 90’ Drop, and Big Rock recently. Ballyhoo trolled behind skirted lures are fooling the majority of the ‘hoos.
Bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of grouper around offshore structure, with cigar minnows and menhaden the top choices in baits.
Luke Willoughby (age 13), of Raleigh, with a 6.8 lb. spanish mackerel that bit a live bait in Beaufort Inlet while he was fishing on the "Elemiah."
Paul, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that before the cold snap early this week, there was an outstanding spanish mackerel bite taking place for surf casters all along the island (with most fish 2-4 lbs.). Schools of fish have been chasing bait into the surf zone, and anglers lucky enough to be where the action is are catching all the fish they want while casting metal lures from the sand. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in, and the action’s been moving up and down the beachfront from Fort Macon to the Sheraton.
Boaters are also getting in on the action, and they’re hooking more outsize spanish on trolled Clarkspoons. Live baits are also producing action and attracting attention from the biggest fish.
Red drum are feeding along the beachfront as well, and taking an interest in finger mullet and cut baits (with many 30”+). Like the spanish, the fish are on the move and following bait.
The sea mullet action is also going strong for surf casters, who are hooking big numbers of the tasty panfish on shrimp and bloodworms. No notable spot runs have taken place yet, but anglers are hooking a few along with croaker and other bottom feeders.
Speckled trout are feeding in the surf and inshore in the creeks and marshes. The bite will only get better as the water temperature continues to fall, and live baits, soft plastics, MirrOlures, and many other offerings will tempt bites from the specks.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the wahoo bite is still going along the break off Beaufort Inlet, and it should be getting even better as the moon comes around to new. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo rigged under sea witches and other trolling lures.
Some sailfish and increasing numbers of blackfin tuna are mixed in with the wahoo.
Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily towards Cape Lookout (and many are 4-5 lbs.). Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights is fooling the spaniards in big numbers.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers caught big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the planks last week.
Some flounder have been falling for small live baits under the pier.
