Morehead City – September 14, 2017
Matt, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that spanish and bluefish have been feeding right on the beach around the many schools of mullet in the area. Surf anglers casting Gotcha plugs and other metal jigs have done well landing high numbers of fish. Quality sea mullet have also started feed well in the surf zone. Those targeting them have had the most luck in the evening hours into the night.
Inshore, the marsh is holding good numbers of slot red drum. Those targeting the reds have done best around the Haystacks and Core Creek areas. Most fish have been in the 20-24” range and have been willing to strike topwater lures, soft plastics, and live shrimp under a float rig.
The old drum bite has also fired up. Anglers throwing popping cork rigs with large soft plastics (and fresh cut mullet on the bottom) have found plenty of action in the Neuse River. Some fish have been in the 40+ lb. range.
Flounder fishing has remained steady. Fish up to the 5+ lb. range have been landed near the port wall. Fishing live finger mullet on flounder rigs has been the most productive way to hook good numbers of flatfish.
Speckled trout have started to feed a little better with the cooling temperatures. Targeting marsh areas with topwater plugs early in the morning has been the best way to catch quality fish. As the day goes on, live shrimp and minnows under float rigs near marsh lines has gotten the job done.
Those looking for sheepshead have found solid action at the Atlantic Beach Bridge, Beaufort Bridge, Harker’s Island Bridge, and port areas. The docks along the waterway and in Taylor’s Creek have also held good numbers of fish. Dropping live fiddler crabs and sea urchins have been the baits of choice.
Just off the beach, spanish and bluefish have schooled up. Those targeting high numbers of fish have found them close to the beach, while the larger fish have been holding on nearshore structure and reefs. King fishing has slowed down a bit due to the high winds, but with the dropping temperatures, the bite should start to heat up. Around the nearshore reefs, anglers dropping 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp have landed a few keepers.
Offshore, between Swansboro Hole and the Big Rock area, anglers have had success landing increasingly better numbers of wahoo. A few dolphin have also been landed in this same area.
On the bottom, around the Atlas Tanker and 1700 Rock areas, anglers have hooked grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and snapper.
Kelly Cole, of Goldsboro, NC, with a 4 lb. speckled trout that ate a live shrimp near Core Creek.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the red and black drum bite in the surf has heated up. A mix of fresh shrimp and cut bait has worked best. Sea mullet have also been feeding in the suds, and those casting sand fleas and fresh shrimp on bottom rigs have boxed plenty of fish.
Casting for spanish from the beach has been producing, as the fish are close enough to cast to. Tossing Gotcha plugs and Breakday jigs has been the ticket.
On the nearshore reefs, the flounder bite has started to pick up. Dropping bucktails tipped with plastics and live mullet and menhaden has worked well. AR-320 has been a great place to start looking for the flatfish.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has been solid. Trolling with high speed lures and large, skirted ballyhoo have been the most productive tactics for hooking them.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the inshore trophy red drum bite has turned on. Anglers targeting the Neuse River with popping cork rigs and 5” swim baits have seen success.
Flounder are still hanging around inshore, and searching for deep holes and marsh points has been the ticket.
Just off the beach, the spanish bite remains solid. Trolling Clarkspoons has produced plenty of spanish and blues, but slow trolling live baits around nearshore structure has landed anglers more of the quality fish. Flounder have also stacked up in good numbers around the nearshore reefs. Live baits and bucktails have both worked, but lately the fish have preferred a bucktail tipped with a soft plastic.
The wahoo bite has taken off offshore. Trolling 32 oz. ballyhoo cowbells, as well as rigged ballyhoo behind Ilander Trackers, has gotten the job done. Dark colors have worked better when it has been overcast, and brighter colors have worked best on sunny days.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the inshore drum bite has provided anglers with plenty of action. Slot fish (as well as some bull reds) have been landed in good numbers. Most fish have been hooked while fishing soft plastics.
Just off the beach, the spanish and bluefish bite has been solid near the inlets. A mix of casting jigs and trolling Clarkspoons has produced good numbers of fish. Anglers targeting flounder nearshore have done well dropping bucktails and live baits around the artificial reefs.
In 70-130′ of water, those dropping to the bottom have picked up grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and porgies.
McKenna Fulcher with a red drum that hit a Z-Man swimbait paired with a Strike King jig in a marsh near Beaufort.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that in 40-50 fathoms near the Big Rock area, anglers have landed good numbers of wahoo. A few blackfin tuna have been in the mix as well. Ilanders and Blue Water Candy sea witches with medium ballyhoo have been the ticket to drawing strikes.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that those bottom fishing with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have landed good numbers of black drum and sea mullet. Anglers looking for flounder have landed a few keepers. Casting Gotcha plugs from the end of the pier has produced a good spanish bite in the morning and evening hours.
