Morehead City September 29, 2011
Chris Burleson, Jr., with a dolphin that bit a ballyhoo south of the Big Rock while he was fishing aboard the "FishJig."
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite is improving with the onset of cooler weather, and some anglers found limit catches last week (of fish to 3+ lbs.). The fish are feeding in the Haystacks, Middle Marsh, Core Creek,NeuseRiver, and other backwater spots in the area. Live mud minnows, suspending MirrOlures, and a variety of soft plastic baits are all tempting bites from the specks.
The red drum bite is up-and-down, but anglers are catching a few in the Haystacks and Core Creek. Spinnerbaits, scented soft plastics, and live or cut baits will tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are still feeding around the port wall, bridges, and ICW docks inshore, and at nearshore structure like the artificial reefs. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the flatfish inshore, with bucktail/Gulp combinations getting the job done in the ocean.
Sheepshead are feeding at much of the same structure as the flounder, and fiddler crabs or sea urchins dangled near vertical structure will tempt them to bite.
Spot are showing up inRadioIslandchannel and at the Beaufort drawbridge, and the action should improve over the next several weeks. Bottom rigs baited with real and Fish Bites bloodworms are the way to go for the spot.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing glass minnows near the inlets. Casting small metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface has been very productive with both species lately. Anglers are also connecting with the blues and spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and other lures along the beachfront.
Some false albacore are feeding outside Beaufort Inlet, and anglers should see more as the weather continues to cool. They’ll bite the same lures as the spanish.
Surf and pier fishermen are starting to hook some speckled trout on Gulps and live baits.
Some puppy drum are taking an interest in cut baits in the surf.
Flounder fishing has been good around theFortMaconrocks, in the surf, and around Oceanana Pier, and live mud minnows are fooling the flatfish.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is still a bit slow, but anglers are finding a few. Snake and teenager fish are feeding around the Dead Tree Hole, the shipping channel, and the AR’s. Dead cigar minnows are tempting them to bite.
Some larger kings are feeding east of Lookout Shoals at spots like the Atlas Tanker, and live menhaden or bluefish will get them to bite.
Bernie and Marleen Bliznik, of Endwell, NY, with a 31" red drum that fell for a chunk of cut bait in the Atlantic Beach surf.
Wahoo are still feeding strong in the Gulf Stream and around the Atlas Tanker on the east side. Live baits and rigged ballyhoo will produce bites from the ‘hoos.
Bottom fishermen are reporting plenty of action at the wrecks and ledges 30-40 miles out. Grouper, sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and plenty of other bottom feeders are feeding around the structure, and they’ll bite cigar minnows, squid, sardines, and other baits on bottom rigs or Decoy jigs. Vertical jigging with Roscoe jigs and other lures can also be productive.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been landing some solid speckled trout from the beaches in the early morning hours. Live finger mullet have been fooling most of the fish, but anglers can also hook up on MirrOlures or soft plastic baits.
The flounder bite is still going around inshore structure like the port wall and bridges and docks. Live mud minnows or finger mullet and Gulp baits will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Sheepshead are feeding around the same structure and will take an interest in fiddler crabs or sea urchins.
Spot are starting to show up inshore around the inlet and towards Beaufort, and the bite should only get better with the coming cool weather. Some gray trout (to 20”) have been mixed in, and both fish are biting bloodworms on spec and bottom rigs.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding around the inlet along with some larger bluefish (several to 10 lbs. weighed in last week). Casting metal jigs like Shore Lures or trolling Clarkspoons will tempt bites from the blues and spanish.
Several wahoo have been caught on the east side of Cape Lookout around the Atlas Tanker lately, and the bite is still good out towards the Big Rock as well. Live baits and rigged ballyhoo will tempt bites from the ‘hoos.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the big drum have moved out of the Pamlico Sound, but anglers can encounter them under flocks of birds working menhaden schools off the east beach. Bucktails tipped with large curlytails will tempt bites from the big reds in the ocean.
The speckled trout bite has been solid throughout Core Sound lately (with plenty of 2-3 lb. fish and some to 4 lbs.). MirrOlure 14 and 17 MR’s have been the most productive baits for the specks lately.
Puppy drum are feeding in the area marshes, and they’ll take an interest in cut baits, Gulps, MirrOlures, and more.
Anglers are reporting excellent flounder action between the mouth of the Neuse River and Cedar Island. Scented soft plastic baits are the way to go for the flatfish.
Shawn and Wayne Zamzow with a wahoo that fell for a red wahoo bomb while they were high-speed trolling between the 90' Drop and the Big Rock.
Diane, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with spot and smaller flounder on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other metal lures worked from the pier.
