Morehead City – October 12, 2017
Matt, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that surf fishing has fired up and anglers have landed a variety of species. Those fishing the bottom have landed black drum, red drum, flounder, spot, sea mullet, pompano, and pigfish. Fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas have all gotten the job done. Schools of spanish, bluefish, and false albacore have also been feeding in the surf. Casting jigs has been the best way to generate strikes.
Inshore, the flounder fishing has fired up. Anglers targeting the port wall, waterway docks, and the high rise bridge have all found good numbers of fish. Using live finger mullet on Carolina rigs has been the best bet for the flatfish.
Those looking for speckled trout have found limits of fish in the marshes. Typical areas (like the Haystacks and Core Creek) have held good numbers of fish. Rapala Skitterwalks and MirrOlures have been the top producing lures. Live shrimp under float rigs have also produced limits of specs.
The red drum bite continues to remain solid in these areas as well. A mix of lures and live baits will get the reds to bite.
Just off the beach, the spanish and bluefish have been schooled up and feeding well around bait pods. Trolling with spoons, as well as casting jigs to busting fish, has produced good numbers of both species. Those looking for the bigger spanish have done well light lining live finger mullet near structure. Some fish landed have pushed the 6 lb. mark.
False albacore have also been holding in the same areas. Most of these fish have preferred a metal jig retrieved fast.
The king bite is starting to heat up off the beach, but it’s not as good as it will be as the water temperatures continue to drop. Slow trolling live baits has been the key to getting hooked up.
Offshore, the wahoo bite remains solid between the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock area.
Joe Dunnehoo, of Cape Carteret, NC, with a 46 lb. wahoo caught while trolling offshore of Morehead City. He was fishing with Capt. Stephen Draughon of Bill Collector Charters.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout fishing has picked up. Anglers targeting the Radio Island area with Billy Bay Halo shrimp and Vudu shrimp have found limits of fish.
Out in the surf zone, anglers have found good action with red drum. Many fish have been in the slot, but a few citation-sized fish have also been landed. Cut mullet has worked best.
Just off the beach, false albacore, bluefish, and spanish have been schooled up and feeding well. Trolling spoons, as well as casting jigs, has produced plenty of action.
A few flounder are still being landed on the nearshore reefs. Jigging bucktails tipped with Gulp and Z-Man soft plastics has done the trick.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the inshore redfish and speckled trout bite has heated up. Live shrimp rigged under a float rig has been the ticket for both. A few bull reds are still hanging around inshore, and cut mullet has done the trick.
Just off the beach, keeper gray trout have been hitting Stingsilvers jigged off the bottom.
Those looking for false albacore action have found it just off the beach. Casting jigs and flies have both worked well.
Kings have been feeding steady in 40-65′ of water out of Beaufort and Bogue inlets. Live bait has been the key to landing good numbers of kings.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that the wahoo bite has remained steady. Trolling medium-sized ballyhoo on Blue Water Candy sea witches has been the ticket, and the Big Rock area has held the best numbers of fish.
Joe Johnson, of Newport, NC, with a 19” sheepshead that ate a live pinfish on a fish finder rig under the Atlantic Beach Bridge.
Wayne, of Oceanana Pier, reports that those casting jigs from the end pier have found plenty of action. Bluefish, spanish, and false albacore have all been willing to strike the jigs.
Those fishing the bottom have landed good numbers of black drum and spot. Fresh shrimp and bloodworms have been the best baits.
