Morehead City October 14, 2010
Sonny Kilpatrick, of Seven Springs, NC, with his first sailfish, which fell for a split-bill ballyhoo while he was trolling near the Big Rock on the "Scoot Root."
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on, and anglers are finding some fish in the Haystacks and Middle Marsh. MirrOlures, Gulps, D.O.A and Billy Bay shrimp, and live finger mullet and shrimp are fooling most of the fish. As the water continues to cool, the trout bite will only get better.
Gray trout are feeding in the turning basin and nearby, and anglers are catching them on spec rigs tipped with shrimp and live shrimp. Some whiting are in the same areas, and they will also fall for the spec rigs.
Spot are showing up in the turning basin and around Beaufort. Live or artificial bloodworms are tops for the tasty panfish.
Red drum are feeding well inshore, with schools of fish hanging around Carrot Island, the Haystacks, and the Core Creek marshes. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and live baits will all attract attention from the reds.
Black drum and sheepshead are still feeding around the high rise bridges, and they’re falling for live shrimp, clams, and sand fleas.
Flounder are on the feed around the ICW docks and at the nearshore reefs. Live mud minnows and shrimp are fooling the fish inshore, and anglers are catching the ocean fish on live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails.
Surf anglers are hooking up with good numbers of pompano, whiting, croaker, and spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
The spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches, Cape Lookout Shoals, and in the shipping channel.
False albacore are feeding in the same areas and will take an interest in small metal casting jigs that approximate the size of the glass minnows they’re feeding on.
Offshore, king mackerel have shown up and are feeding hard around the NW Places, AR-285, the Barge Wreck, and the Lookout rock jetty. Dead cigar minnows and live baits are attracting attention from the kings.
Bottom fishermen have found solid action with black sea bass, snapper, grouper, and flounder at structure on the east side of the shoals. Squid, cigar minnows, mackerel, and sardines are drawing strikes from the bottom feeders.
In the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite is still excellent, with the best action to the south of the Big Rock. Large ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored Blue Water Candy Jags are fooling most of the ‘hoos. A few sailfish and gaffer dolphin are mixed in.
Steve Harrell, of Morehead City, with an 8 lb. flounder he hooked on a live finger mullet while fishing from a waterfront dock at night.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of gray trout in the turning basin, mostly on spec rigs and metal jigs.
Bluefish have inundated the surf and inshore waters and are biting nearly anything.
There was an excellent puppy drum bite around the inlet last week, with white Gulp baits and cut baits producing most of the action.
Anglers are starting to catch a few nice speckled trout around Taylor’s Creek and Radio Island, mostly on soft plastics.
The flounder action is still steady inshore. Live finger mullet and mud minnows or strips of mullet and squid are attracting attention from the flatfish.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still decent, with a few dolphin and decent numbers of sailfish and white marlin mixed in.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that anglers are still catching good numbers of wahoo in the blue water. The action’s been up and down the break (the best bite is in 28-40 fathoms), and anglers are hooking the fish on ballyhoo rigged beneath Blue Water Candy lures. Some blackfin tuna and a decent number of sailfish are mixed in with the ‘hoos.
The king mackerel bite is turning on around structure closer to the beaches, and live baits are tops for the kings.
Tim "Trout Man" Rudder, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, with a 10.14 lb. flounder he hooked at night on a live bait near an ICW dock.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite in the area’s marshes is on, and anglers are catching big numbers (with plenty of 3-4 lb. fish). Gulp baits and MirrOlures are producing much of the action.
Puppy drum are feeding in many of the same areas, and they will fall for live and cut baits (or the same lures anglers are casting for trout).
The pup bite has been good in the surf as well, and anglers are also picking up good numbers of whiting, spot, bluefish, and flounder while fishing the breakers.
Off the beaches, the king mackerel bite has finally turned on, and anglers are hooking the kings on live pogies and other baits at spots on both the east and west sides of the shoals (with some 25-30+ lb. kings in the mix).
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of spot on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Bluefish are around in force and falling for just about anything that anglers put into the water.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of bluefish while casting Gotcha plugs.
Flounder are falling for live mud minnows and shrimp on the bottom.
Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms are hooking up with spot, pufferfish, and whiting.
