Morehead City September 12, 2013
Chris Batsavage, of Morehead City, with a 6.05 lb. flounder that earned him first place in the Chasin’ Tails 2nd Annual Flounder Challenge.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still reporting solid spanish mackerel action off Beaufort Inlet. Big numbers of smaller fish are feeding around the inlet, Oceanana Pier, and Cape Lookout, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and daisy chain rigs. With mullet pouring out the inlet, anglers may find working birds and feeding spanish nearby, and casting metal jigs into the fray will produce plenty of action.
Larger fish are feeding around nearshore structure like AR-315, where live finger mullet or other small live baits on light wire leaders will tempt them to bite.
Some king mackerel have been feeding in the Beaufort shipping channel, with more action around structure on the east side of the shoals. Both live baits (like menhaden) and cigar minnows fished on dead bait rigs will tempt bites from the larger mackerel.
Flounder are feeding at AR-315 and other nearshore structure, where they have a tough time turning down a Gulp bait pinned to a 2 oz. bucktail jig.
There’s also been good flounder action inshore recently (with several 5+ lb. citation fish). Most of the larger fish are feeding around inshore structure like the port wall, bridges, and docks, but anglers are hooking plenty while drifting the channels as well. Live mud minnows and finger mullet are producing most of the flatfish inshore.
Sheepshead are feeding around the same structure as the larger flounder, and they will pounce on live sea urchins or fiddler crabs fished tight to their homes.
Red drum are feeding in the local marshes, but the bite’s been hit-or-miss lately. Casting topwater plugs, Gulp baits, or live baits under popping corks is the way to connect with the reds when they’re feeding.
Speckled trout are feeding in the marshes and creeks, and with the summer season that anglers had to the north, it should be an incredible fall for trout. Casting Gulps and other soft plastics, topwater plugs, or suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR17’s is the way to connect with the specks.
Kevin Jackson with a 33.5 lb. dolphin that he hooked at the NE Big Rock while trolling off Beaufort Inlet on the “Another Option.”
Sea mullet are feeding in the shipping channel and moving into the inlet and turning basin. A few gray trout are mixed in, and both will take an interest in spec rigs tipped with shrimp or bloodworms.
The spot bite isn’t on yet, but anglers are catching a few. And they’ll only get more numerous as summer turns to fall.
Offshore, anglers are seeing some stellar wahoo action along the break from the Big Rock to the Swansboro Hole. Ballyhoo trolled with skirted lures are fooling most of the ‘hoos, along with a few dolphin and blackfin tuna feeding in the same areas.
Bottom fishermen are reporting the best grouper bite around structure from the 14 Buoy on out to the 90’ Drop right now. Live baits or dead cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel will get attention from the grouper.
Black sea bass and other smaller bottom dwellers are looking for meals a bit closer in like the NW Places. Squid and cut baits will fool a wide assortment of bottomfish.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to catch some spot from the surf and pier. Croaker, sea mullet, pompano, and other panfish are mixed in, and all are biting shrimp, squid, and bloodworms. A few black drum are also falling for shrimp.
Flounder are feeding along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking decent numbers on squid, strip baits, and live baits. Live, dead, and cut mullet are fooling some red drum in the same areas.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the surf and piers have found plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel over the past week.
Trollers are also catching big numbers of the blues and spaniards while trolling #0 Clarkspoons and squid rigs.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has been incredible lately, with many boats returning with limit catches. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures are fooling the majority of the ‘hoos.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that many boats have been connecting with limit catches of wahoo (averaging 30-50 lbs.) lately. The bite’s been best along the break in 30-40 fathoms, and ballyhoo paired with sea witches and other skirted lures are tempting most of the bites.
Some black fin tuna, bailer dolphin, and an occasional sailfish are feeding alongside the wahoo and also taking an interest in boats’ trolling spreads.
John, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, pigfish, and flounder from the pier.
Plug casters are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas.
