Morehead City October 12, 2006
Matt, at Chasin Tails Charters, reports that redfish action is hot on the heavy low tide and the heavy high tide.
At low tide when they are out of the grass, they are schooling up on shrimp and mullets. Sight fishing for them is working the best, but you can also get strikes just by blind casting along the bank. Gulp shrimps are the way to go, and some reds are also coming off spinnerbaits and live shrimp.
On high tide, go to the grass. You should be able to spot some schools tailing after shrimp and mullets. The Haystacks are full of them. You have to hunt for them, but when you find them you can keep picking at the school.
Some small trout are also in the mix of redfish. There aren’t many big ones yet, but it won’t be long. For the specks, use the same bait as for the reds. Gulp baits seem to be producing numbers, but the bigger trout are coming off live shrimp.
Some nice flounder are also being caught inside. The fish aren’t huge, but you should be able to pick up a few in the 3 pound class.
Big spanish have been coming off Cape Lookout recently (some of the biggest fish all year). Trolling clarks and squid rigs, or live baiting, has been producing fish in the 4-6 pound range.
A few grays are showing up in the inlet and around the bridges. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp are working the best.
George, at Carolina Bait and Tackle, reports that redfish have been biting fairly well in the Haystacks on both live bait and artificials.
There are now 2 to 3 pound gray trout showing up in the turning basin and in the inlet. They’re hitting jigged stingsilvers or spec rigs tipped with shrimp.
Spots and sea mullet are in the same areas hitting the spec rigs.
A few nice speckled trout are showing up in the creeks, and they should pick up as the water cools.
Flounder are hitting live baits on the inside, and the bite has been doing especially well around the nearshore artificial reefs (like AR315).
Big spanish mackerel (along with a few kings) are being caught on the beach using Hank Brown rigs with cigar minnows.
Grouper and red snapper are coming from 30+ miles out, and the wahoo are picking up in the gulf stream.
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports solid surf fishing along Bogue Banks. The surf casters are scoring action with spots, whiting, flounder, bluefish, and red drum.
Shrimp have produced the best results for the spots and whiting. Bluefish, small to medium flounder, and slot-sized drum are falling for strips of mullet and squid.
Around Cape Lookout, fat spanish mackerel (from 3-6 lbs.) are abundant. Trolling spoons and diving plugs will get bites from the chunky spanish. Anglers can also fill coolers by casting plugs and other small, shiny lures around breaking schools.
Very few king mackerel have been caught recently around the Morehead area.
Wahoo, with some sailfish mixed in, are making a strong showing at the Big Rock. Trolling medium ballyhoo beneath skirts is the best way to hook up with both the wahoos and sails, as well as any other offshore gamefish in the area.
Inshore, the flounder are moving out to sea, and the best bite is in the inlets or on the beach.
Gray trout are still holding in the inlets, and the best way to put them in a cooler is by jigging a spec rig tipped with shrimp near the bottom.
Puppy drum are still holding in the marshes, but anglers have been very tight-lipped as to where.
Shane, at Second to None Charters, reports that there’s been hot wahoo and sailfish action between the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole. There have also been occasional gaffer dolphin mixed in. Medium ballyhoo under a witch and Jag lures have been the most productive, with the sails preferring the ballyhoo.
Around the Cape and the rock jetty, big spanish mackerel (up to 9 lbs.) are attacking trolled clark spoons.
Inshore charters have been producing plenty of flounder and red drum. Gulp baits are the hot lures inshore.
Helen, at Sportsman’s Pier, reports that bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms are producing spots, small croakers, and whiting.
Small flounder are hitting live baits.
Plug casters are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish.
The water temperature is 75 degrees.
