Morehead – July 17, 2014
Corey Brookshire with a cobia that attacked a bucktail jig east of Cape Lookout shoals while he was fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid flounder action both inshore and offshore around Morehead City. Anglers are finding the fish around structure like the port wall and bridges and while drifting the channels behind Atlantic Beach and Shackleford.
The ocean fish are feeding around bottom structure like the AR’s and ledges. Gulp baits on bucktail jigs and live mud minnows are fooling the flatfish inshore and off.
Sheepshead fishing has turned on strong (with several 10+ lb. fish weighed in this week). The sheeps are feeding around the same inshore structure and taking an interest in live fiddler crabs and sea urchins.
The red drum bite in the local marshes remains consistent, with anglers hooking good numbers around grass edges, oyster bars, and on the flats. Live baits under popping corks and a wide variety of artificials are getting attention from the reds.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the backwaters, but most have been coming from brackish areas in the rivers and creeks. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits are fooling the specks.
Spanish mackerel action has fully recovered from the effects of the hurricane, and anglers are finding solid numbers along the Beaufort shipping channel and near Cape Lookout shoals. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or squid and bird rigs will get plenty of attention from the mackerel.
Abbey Long, of Summerfield, NC, with a citation 8.03 lb. sheepshead that bit a live fiddler crab near Emerald Isle. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Offshore, the dolphin fishing remains strong in the wake of the storm (with some boats catching 30+). Most of the action has been from the 14 Buoy on offshore, but anglers are finding a few closer to the beachfront. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the ‘phins.
Bottom fishing has been excellent over the past week, with the best reports coming from live bottom areas in the 30 mile range. Grouper and amberjacks are falling for live, dead, and cut baits, with smaller bottom feeders like triggerfish, black sea bass, grunts, and snappers biting squid and smaller cut baits. Vertical jigs are also fooling the bottom dwellers.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishermen have had a successful start to the short American red snapper season, landing decent numbers at bottom structure east of Cape Lookout shoals. Some gag grouper are mixed in, and both are falling for cut, live, and dead baits.
Dolphin action has been scattered recently, with scattered weeds spreading out the fish and making trolling a bit of a hassle. Anglers have landed decent numbers when the weather’s let them get offshore recently, but the action’s not nearly as consistent as a month ago.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been hit-and-miss as well, with anglers reporting decent catches some days and slow fishing on the others. Up-and-down water clarity has been the biggest issue with the spanish action, and once anglers see clean water move in and stay the action should be right back on track. Clarkspoons paired with planers and trolling weights are the way to put the spaniards in the boat.
Inshore, the sheepshead bite has been excellent around structure like bridge and dock pilings and the Morehead port wall. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are fooling the sheeps.
Jay Winters, of Durham, NC, with a 26″ red drum he hooked in the Atlantic Beach surf while casting a Gulp bait on a bucktail jig.
Red drum and some speckled trout have been feeding in the creeks and marshes, and natural baits are proving far more effective than artificials recently. The reds are mostly falling for cut mullet, with live shrimp suspended under floats fooling the specks.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking a mixed bag of croaker, spot, sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, and flounder, with a few slot red drum in the mix. Shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the action in the breakers.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some solid action with flounder, speckled trout, and red drum while fishing creeks and shorelines off the lower Neuse River. Live baits are fooling most of the fish, but soft plastics will tempt bites as well.
Out in the ocean, there’s some good flounder fishing around nearshore structure in the 40-60’ depths. Most of the flatfish are falling for bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits. Some cobia are still looking for meals in the same areas and will also pounce on bucktails.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some dolphin while trolling the Gulf Stream off Beaufort Inlet, and there’s been a decent wahoo showing in the last week as well. Billfish are still in the area, and boats have released white and blue marlin over the past week. All the blue water predators are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches.
Hailey, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing sea mullet, sharks, bluefish, croaker, pigfish, and a mixed bag of other panfish. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling most of the fish.
