Morehead City – September 28, 2017
Matt, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that speckled trout fishing is starting to heat up. Many anglers have had luck in the Core Creek and Haystacks areas fishing with soft plastics and live shrimp under float rigs. Limits of fish have been landed, and many have been in the 2-4 lb. range (with a few pushing the 6 lb. mark).
Red drum fishing has remained steady. Anglers fishing with live shrimp and mud minnows under floats have had the best success, but artificials like topwaters and soft plastics on jig heads have accounted for many fish, too. The reds have been active in the Haystacks, Core Creek, Calico Creek, North River, and Adams Creek areas. Targeting marsh banks has been the ticket to landing good numbers of fish.
A few big drum are still hanging around in the sound and rivers as well. Most people are having luck soaking fresh cut mullet on the bottom or throwing popping cork rigs.
Those looking for flounder have found fish around the Port Wall and AR-315. Fishing with live finger mullet and 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp have been the best methods for hooking flatfish. Several fish in the 3 lb. range have been landed, and one fish hit the 6 lb. mark.
Just off the beach, the spanish and king fishing has been up and down, but those trolling Clarkspoons and Bowed-Up Lures spoons have landed a few fish.
In the surf, the sea mullet, spot, and black drum have been feeding well. They’ve been willing to take fresh cut shrimp fished on the bottom. Those casting cut baits have hooked into red drum, flounder, and bluefish.
A few spanish and blues are being landed from the ends of the piers on Gotcha plugs.
Those that have made it offshore have come back with good numbers of wahoo in the box. Most fish have been hooked between the Swansboro Hole and the Big Rock area.
Anglers dropping to the bottom have found grouper, snapper, and triggerfish, with those targeting 150′ of water finding the best numbers of fish.
Tanner, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing in the surf has produced sea mullet and pompano. Most fish have bit fresh shrimp or Fishbites, and night fishing has produced better numbers when it comes to the sea mullet.
The spanish and bluefish bite has stayed steady, and those tossing Shore Lures and Stingsilvers have hooked into plenty of action.
Red drum have made their way to the surf zone, and casting cut mullet into the suds has been the key to hooking them. A few small flounder have been landed as well.
Topwater plugs worked along marsh banks have produced good numbers of trout. Soft plastics bounced off the bottom and under popping corks have also worked well. Most fish have been in the 2-3 lb. range, with the occasional 4-5 lb. fish being landed. Red drum have been mixed in with the trout.
The big red fishing has remained hot in area rivers. Both cut mullet and popping cork rigs have done the trick.
Off the beach, schools of spanish, bluefish, and false albacore have been feeding well. Casting metal jigs to schools of busting fish has been a great way to hook into some action. Those targeting flounder on the nearshore reefs have landed solid numbers of fish, specifically around AR-330. Dropping a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a soft plastic has gotten the job done.
Those headed offshore have found steady numbers of wahoo, with many boats landing double digit numbers. Some bailer dolphin and sailfish are also in the mix offshore.
Gail Chandler with a pair of sheepshead landed under the Atlantic Beach Bridge. She was using sea urchins as bait.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that the inshore flounder bite remains consistent. Live finger mullet and soft plastics on jig heads have been producing good numbers of keeper fish.
Those looking for a big red drum have still found a few fish inshore. Casting a popping cork rig with a Z-Man soft plastic has gotten the job done.
The nearshore wrecks and reefs are holding plenty of fish. Those dropping live pinfish to the bottom have landed amberjacks, barracudas, and gag grouper. A few amberjacks have also been willing to take a topwater plug.
Flounder fishing on the nearshore reefs has been consistent. A mix of live mullet, as well as Breakday bucktails tipped with Z-Man plastics, has been the ticket.
A few false albacore have shown up nearshore. Both casting jigs as well as trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers in pink have worked well.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the old drum fishing continues to produce plenty of action. Anglers have hooked fish on both cut mullet and popping cork rigs. Using a large soft plastic in the 5-6” range under the cork is the key to getting consistent bites.
Those looking for speckled trout have found strong numbers of fish along marsh lines and points. Live shrimp under float rigs have been the best method for targeting them. A few black drum have been in the mix with the trout.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw, reports that in the 30-50 fathom range below the Big Rock area, the wahoo fishing has been consistent. Those trolling with medium ballyhoo and Blue Water Candy sea witches have had some double digit days. A few sailfish have also been in the mix.
On the bottom and around the 30 fathom mark, bottom fishing for beeliners and triggerfish has been productive.
Doug Bivins, of Statesville, with a 22” black drum caught while fishing the Calico Creek near Morehead City.
Larry, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers fishing from the end of the pier have started to land false albacore. Throwing metal jigs has been the best way to hook up.
Those fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have caught sea mullet, spot, and pigfish.
