Morehead – July 24, 2014
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still finding solid numbers of flounder at nearshore structure in the ocean (like the AR’s) along with inshore structure (like bridge pilings and the port wall). Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live mud minnows and finger mullet or bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Bethany Arnold with a red drum she hooked on a Gulp bait while fishing near Ft. Macon with her father Wyndal.
Sheepshead are feeding around the port wall and bridge pilings inshore (with plenty 3-6 lbs. and some over 8 lbs. weighed in lately). Anglers are connecting with the sheeps while fishing live fiddler crabs and sea urchins tight to the structure.
Red drum and speckled trout are looking for meals in the marshes, with the best action lately in Core Creek and off the Neuse River. Both are taking an interest in topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits under floats.
Spanish mackerel have been tough to pattern lately, with the bite solid some days and nonexistent on others. The shipping channel has been providing the most consistent action lately, and anglers are hooking the fish on Clarkspoons and squid rigs.
Sharks are feeding around Beaufort Inlet and just offshore, where anglers are connecting with them on large cut and dead baits pinned to wire leaders.
Offshore trollers are reporting that a decent dolphin bite continues in the blue water off Beaufort Inlet and there’s been a decent showing of wahoo recently as well. The 90’ Drop and south Big Rock have been two of the best spots in recent days. Skirted ballyhoo are producing most of the action with both fish.
Dylan Mcallister, of VA, with a catch of spanish mackerel (the largest 5 lbs.) that bit live baits near AR-315. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of grouper along with amberjacks, triggerfish, sea bass, snapper, and more while dropping baits to offshore structure both east and west of the shoals. Squid, cigar minnows, mackerel, and menhaden are all attracting attention from the bottomfish.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen are seeing a typical summer mixed bag of spot, sea mullet, croaker, pinfish, sharks, and more. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling all.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes throughout the area, and anglers are reporting a solid topwater bite lately. Live baits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and more will fool the reds when they aren’t biting on top.
Spanish mackerel action has been decent around Beaufort Inlet and along the beachfront, but big numbers of ribbonfish have moved in and made it difficult to get through to the spanish.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are picking up some grouper and red snapper, but the big fish bite hasn’t been stellar over the past week. Plenty of smaller bottom feeders like black sea bass, triggerfish, and beeliners are providing action in between the big bites. Some cobia have also been reported by bottom fishermen lately.
Dolphin fishing remains decent in the blue water offshore, but very scattered weeds have made trolling somewhat tedious recently.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with solid numbers of slot and over-slot red drum while fishing in the creeks and marshes from Beaufort to the Neuse River. Most are falling for live baits, but anglers are also hooking up on soft plastics and a variety of other artificials.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are still finding plenty of action with gaffer and bailer dolphin while trolling the blue water off Beaufort Inlet. Some wahoo and billfish (including blue marlin to 500+ lbs.) are mixed in, and all are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches.
Carly, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some croaker and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. Some puppy drum are falling for larger baits on the bottom.
Anglers are also seeing and hooking some sheepshead around the pier.
Flounder are taking an interest in live baits fished on the bottom around the pilings.
