Morehead – September 10, 2015
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing some solid spanish mackerel action around Fort Macon right now, with some fish also feeding around Cape Lookout. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the fish, but anglers who find the spaniards schooled up tightly can also cast metal lures like Sea Striker Jigfish into the activity to hook up.
Larger spanish are feeding around nearshore structure like AR-315 and biting live finger mullet.
Some bluefish have been feeding alongside the spanish, and anglers are also seeing some larger blues around Cape Lookout.
Jack crevalle are also looking for meals around Lookout Shoals, and they will bite all the same things as the spanish and blues.
The false albacore bite has been up-and-down recently, with north winds producing some solid action along the beaches.
King mackerel action has been somewhat slow recently, but the arrival of fall and cooler temperatures should kick the bite into gear around Cape Lookout.
Flounder fishing has also been a bit on the slow side, but not many anglers have been targeting them. Some keeper fish have been landed by anglers jigging Gulp-tipped bucktails around AR-315, and anglers should also be able to connect with some flatfish around the port wall, high-rise bridges, and other inshore structure. Live finger mullet will fool the flounder along with the Gulps.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the same structure as the flatfish, and anglers can fool the sheeps with live fiddler crabs and sea urchins dangled tight to the pilings or vertical wall.
Sea mullet have begun to move back into Beaufort Inlet and the turning basin, and the fish will only become more numerous as fall arrives. Anglers looking to hook the tasty mullet can find plenty of action with spec rigs tipped with shrimp.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is getting better by the week, and anglers have found solid action at the Swansboro Hole and from the 90’ drop to the NE Big Rock recently. Ballyhoo trolled with skirts like Blue Water Candy JAGs are the best bets for the ‘hoos. Some dolphin and blackfin tuna are feeding in the same areas as the ‘hoos and will bite the same baits.
Laura Baker, of Raleigh, NC, with a 5.73 lb. spanish mackerel she hooked on a live bait while fishing some nearshore structure off Beaufort Inlet.
Steve, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that big numbers of spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and bluefish are being caught while anglers are trolling Clarkspoons with planers nearshore around Atlantic Beach and the surrounding inlets. Trolling for spanish and blues off of the Cape Lookout shoals has also been very effective the past few weeks.
Anglers targeting larger king mackerel are having success while live-baiting with menhaden and bluefish around these same areas.
Wahoo are being caught behind planers using skirted cigar minnows and ballyhoo around some of the offshore artificial reefs like AR-320 and 330, the Big Rock, and many other offshore hotspots.
Offshore bottom fishermen are having success with numbers of grouper, snapper, triggerfish, flounder, and sea bass. The grouper, snapper, and triggerfish are mainly being fooled by cigar minnows and squid off of the bottom. The offshore flounder and sea bass have been found near artificial wrecks and ledges and are being caught with live finger mullet, menhaden, and 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp. Flounder have also been caught around the port wall and other nearshore structure using bucktails and Gulps or live baits.
In the Atlantic Beach surf, surf fishermen are targeting croaker, sea mullet, flounder, bluefish, and spanish mackerel from the shore. The surf fishermen are mainly using shrimp and cut mullet to fool these species.
Inshore, large amounts of red drum are schooling up in the grass flats and creeks, and they can be caught on top using hard plastics like Skitterwalks as well as off the bottom using live or cut mullet.
Trout are also being heavily targeted in the creeks and waterway using Z-Man soft plastics and other soft baits. Popping corks with live shrimp and baitfish have been reported successful as well.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel on the east side of Cape Lookout, primarily while casting metal lures like Stingsilvers at schools of fish feeding on the surface.
Some king mackerel are in the same areas, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits.
Dropping bucktail jigs and live baits to bottom structure within a few miles of the beachfront is producing plenty of action with flounder.
Gag grouper, amberjacks, sea bass, and a host of other bottom fish are feeding at structure further off the beaches. Anglers can target the grouper and jacks with live baits and use squid and cut baits to fool the smaller fish.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that anglers are hooking solid numbers of wahoo while trolling the local Gulf Stream hotspots off Beaufort Inlet at present. Some sailfish, dolphin, and blackfin tuna are mixed in, and all are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches.
Greta, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier. Live finger mullet have been fooling some larger fish.
Anglers are also spotting some cobia from the end of the pier, and one was hooked on a Gotcha plug last week.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with pinfish, sea mullet, and pufferfish on shrimp, squid, and cut baits.
