Morehead City October 13, 2011
Richard Broughton, of Morehead City, with a pair of flounder that bit live mud minnows at the Morehead port wall. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are starting to see the fall fishing turn on along the Crystal Coast.
Speckled trout are showing up in increasing numbers, and anglers are finding the fish inshore around the Haystacks, Core Creek, Middle Marsh,CarrotIsland, and theNeuseRiver, with some action at theCape Lookoutjetty in the ocean as well. Live shrimp and mud minnows, Gulp baits and other soft plastics, and hard baits like MirrOlures are all attracting attention from the specks.
The red drum action is still up and down, but anglers are finding some feeding reds in many of the same places as the specks, and the fish are beginning to school up in the surf zone, too. Live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other artificials will fool the reds into biting.
Anglers have brought good numbers of large flounder in to be weighed lately (some to 10+ lbs.). Anglers are finding the flatfish around the port wall, on bridge and dock pilings, in the marshes and inlets, and out at the artificial reefs. Live mud minnows, squid strips, and bucktail/Gulp combinations are fooling most of the flatfish.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the port wall, bridge and dock pilings, and other hard inshore structure in the area. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins dangled tight to the structure are the way to hook up with the sheeps.
The area is experiencing one of the better spot runs in years, with anglers putting together good catches from the Radio Island jetty back to the Beaufort drawbridge. Live bloodworms and Fish Bites bloodworms and shrimp are the best baits for the tasty panfish.
Sea mullet are feeding from the Coast Guard Station back into the turning basin, and they will bite the same baits as the spot.
Surf casters are hooking spot and sea mullet as well, along with some red and black drum, flounder, bluefish, pompano, and more. Shrimp, sand fleas, squid, finger mullet, and cut baits are all producing action in the surf.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are feeding on glass minnows and other small baits from the inlet to Cape Lookout on out to a few miles offshore. Small metal casting jigs (1/2-3/4 oz.) are fooling most of the albacore and some spanish. Better catches of spanish seem to be coming for boats trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs.
Increasing numbers of smaller king mackerel are feeding around the shipping channel, the inlet, Dead Tree Hole, the AR’s, and the Barge Wreck. Cigar minnows trolled on dead bait rigs are attracting attention from the smaller kings. Some larger smoker king mackerel are still feeding around the Atlas Tanker.
Wahoo are still biting around the Atlas as well, and the ‘hoo action is still on around the Big Rock when boats can get out there. Large ballyhoo behind dark-hued trolling lures are fooling most of the wahoo.
Some dolphin are feeding from the NW Places on out to the Big Rock, and smaller ballyhoo will get their attention.
Bottom fishing around structure 30-35 miles out is filling coolers with sea bass, triggerfish, grouper, amberjacks, and plenty of other bottom dwellers.
Jennifer Lewis, of Benson, NC, with a dolphin that fell for a live bait offshore of the 14 Buoy while she was fishing with Troy Ellis.
Cody, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that the spot bite is on around theBeaufortBridge. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and Fish Bites are producing most of the spot action.
The speckled trout bite is improving, and anglers are finding the fish in the backwaters off the North River and other marshes, aroundFortMacon, and from the surf and piers. Gulps and live baits have been producing the lion’s share of the fish.
Flounder fishing remains solid. The fish are feeding around the Cape Lookout andFortMaconjetties, the port wall, bridges and docks, and the AR’s off Beaufort Inlet. Live baits or bucktail/Gulp combos are the way to go for the flatfish.
The red drum action has been most consistent for surf anglers soaking cut baits lately.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding near the inlets and along the beaches, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and casting small metal lures at schools of fish feeding on the surface.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout action keeps getting better. The marshes and bays off the North River and Core and Pamlico Sounds have been hosting the best bite (and giving up decent numbers of 3-4 lb. fish). Anglers are hooking the specks on Gulp and MirrOlure scented soft plastics and on MirrOlure suspending and topwater hardbaits.
Some puppy drum are feeding in the same areas as the specks, and they will take an interest in the same lures as well as live and cut baits.
Large red drum are feeding on menhaden schools on the east side ofCape Lookout, and they may offer anglers some exciting sight-casting opportunities when they get the weather to cross the shoals.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers saw some solid spot runs over the past week and weekend.
Some speckled trout and flounder were falling for live baits from the pier last week.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel.
