Morehead – November 12, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing some incredible king mackerel action off Beaufort Inlet right now, with the NW Places the recent hotspot. A few are still feeding around Lookout Shoals and to the east as well. The area seems to be a gathering point for the kings before they head offshore for the winter, so anglers who want to get in on the action should do it soon. Both live baits and dead cigar minnows on dead bait rigs will draw bites from the kings.
There are still some false albacore feeding around Cape Lookout, but they haven’t been feeding with a lot of consistency. Anglers who spot the albacore chasing bait on the surface can cast metal jigs or flashy flies at them to hook up.
Offshore, anglers are still hooking solid numbers of wahoo while trolling the break between the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock. Some large blackfin tuna and a few late-season dolphin are mixed in. All the offshore predators will bite skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen are putting together solid catches of grouper, sea bass, triggerfish, and snappers while targeting structure from the NW Places to the 14 Buoy.
Inshore anglers are seeing some solid speckled trout action (with huge numbers of small fish but keepers mixed in). The fish are feeding in the Haystacks, around Radio Island, and at other known trout spots in the area.
Gray trout are feeding from the inlet to the turning basin and underneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Stingilvers, spec rigs, and live shrimp will all fool the trout.
Anglers also hooked good numbers of red drum alongside the gray trout at the railroad tracks last week, and there’s been a good puppy drum bite in the marshes as well. Live mud minnows and cut mullet are fooling the drum.
A few flounder are still feeding along the port wall, but the action had slowed down with last week’s warmer weather. The bite should kick back into gear with the passage of some more cold fronts.
Surf anglers are hooking some slot and over-slot red drum, black drum, and sea mullet.
Gary Johnson, of Atlantic Beach, with a 5.05 lb. speckled trout that struck a 52M MirrOLure in a local creek. Weighed in at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking huge numbers of king mackerel along with blackfin tuna, wahoo, and some sailfish while live and dead bait trolling around the NW Places.
Flounder fishing has been excellent at the port wall and the local nearshore reefs over the past week (with many 5+ lb. fish weighed in). Most are falling for live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs.
The speckled trout bite seems to have kicked off, with anglers finding the fish in the marshes and at many of the other traditional trout spots around Morehead and Beaufort (many are undersized but some big fish are mixed in). The specks are falling for a wide variety of artificial lures, but the new Z-Man Trout Tricks have been one of the most effective this season.
Spot are still on the feed around Beaufort and in the turning basin. Anglers are hooking the spot along with pigfish, puffers, and other bottom feeders on shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
David Nelson with a 7.36 lb. spanish mackerel that struck a live bait around 7 miles off Cape Lookout while he was fishing with Daniel Corley on the “DANACAL.”
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that there’s been a wide-open king mackerel bite at the NW Places in recent days, with incredible numbers of fish (and many to 30+ lbs.) Live baits are the best bets for the larger kings.
Gag grouper are feeding on bottom structure a bit further offshore and will also pounce on menhaden and other live baits.
Anglers are seeing plenty of large false albacore mixed in with the kings, and they’re feeding on the surface closer to the beaches.
Inshore, there’s been a solid flounder bite around the port wall and other deeper structure. Most are falling for live baits.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding in the marshes and along the ICW. Anglers can hook both on live baits or soft plastics fished under popping corks.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Sportfishing, reports that there’s been some solid wahoo and blackfin tuna action for boats trolling along the break off Beaufort Inlet recently. Both are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches and Ilanders. A few sailfish have been feeding in the same areas and falling for the same offerings.
