Morehead City September 26, 2013
David Nelson, Davin Riggan, and Randall Watkins with flounder (the largest pair 8 and 6.7 lbs.) and red drum they hooked on live finger mullet near Morehead City. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is getting event better, with most fish coming from just offshore of Atlantic Beach and around Cape Lookout Shoals. They’re also feeding in the inlet on higher tides, along with plenty of bluefish. Trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons and daisy chains is the most productive way to connect with the spaniards, but anglers can also cast metal jigs to fish that they spot feeding on the surface to hook up on lighter tackle.
Some larger spanish (to 6+ lbs.) are feeding around nearshore structure like AR-315 and AR-285. Live finger mullet on light wire leaders are fooling the big spaniards.
False albacore are schooling up in many of the same areas as the spanish and blues, and large schools are feeding a bit further offshore as well. They’ll respond to the same trolling and casting techniques as the smaller pelagics.
Flounder are feeding at AR-315, too, and inshore around structure like the port wall and bridge and dock pilings (with good numbers of 5-8 lb. fish weighed in recently). Live finger mullet and mud minnows or Gulp baits pinned to bucktail jigs are the best bets for the flatfish.
Spot and sea mullet are feeding in the inlet and shipping channel, and the bite will only improve as the weather cools. Spec and bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and fresh shrimp will fool both tasty bottom dwellers.
Joe Elmore, of Greensboro, NC, with a 28″ gag grouper that bit a live pinfish at some bottom structure in 85′ of water off Cape Lookout while he was fishing with Josh Wilder.
Speckled trout are showing up in the Haystacks, Core Creek, and other marshy areas. A few have been landed in the surf already as well. Live shrimp or mud minnows and a wide variety of artificial lures will tempt bites from the specks.
Surf casters are hooking decent numbers of flounder (a mix of keeper and short fish), primarily on live mud minnows. Big numbers of bluefish are also looking for meals in the breakers and biting finger mullet and other baits.
Some sea mullet and spot are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms in the surf and off the pier.
Offshore, the wahoo bite remains phenomenal on many days, with limits catches not unusual. Some dolphin have been mixed in, and both are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures. The best action has been around the Big Rock and north of the Rise recently.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been some good spanish mackerel and bluefish action for anglers working metal lures from the pier and the beachfront. Gotcha plugs are producing from the planks, while casting lures like Hopkins, Shore Lures, and Stingsilvers are producing from the sand.
Decent numbers of red drum (slot-sized and larger) are also feeding in the surf zone and biting cut and finger mullet, which are also producing more bluefish.
Dan Corley and mate Wade with a 31 lb. dolphin that bit a skirted ballyhoo while they were trolling offshore of Beaufort Inlet with Capt. Stephen Draughon on the “Bill Collector.”
Spot, sea mullet, croaker, pompano, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on double-drop rigs in the surf.
More sea mullet and some gray trout are feeding in the turning basin, and spec rigs tipped with the same baits will produce there.
The spanish mackerel action has been incredible lately for boats trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures within a few miles of the beachfronts, and putting together a limit has been an easy proposition over the past week.
Holden, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
Bottom fishermen are hooking big numbers of croaker along with some spot, sea mullet, and a few black drum on shrimp and bloodworms.
Some puppy drum and flounder are biting live baits under the pier.
David Logan, of Wrightsville Beach’s “Logan’s Run” fishing team, with the 41.87 lb. king mackerel that earned he and D. Logan first place and over $31,000 in the Atlantic Beach Saltwater Classic. Their sole king of the day, the fish fell for a naked menhaden on top east of Cape Lookout Shoals.
