Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with black drum around local inshore structure, with a particularly good bite around Tilghman’s dock recently (and fish from 3-18 lbs.). Live shrimp are fooling the majority of the drum.
Flounder, red drum, and speckled trout are feeding in Tubbs Inlet. Anglers are hooking all three on live shrimp under popping corks fish along grass and shell edges in the area. Some reds and flounder are also biting live finger mullet on Carolina rigs in the same spots and deeper areas.
Out in the ocean, there’s been some good fishing at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle and Ron McManus reefs. Anglers are hooking good numbers of flounder around the reefs on live finger mullet along with bluefish, sea bass, lizardfish, and plenty of other bottom dwellers.
Some sheepshead are feeding at the same spots and biting shrimp and other crustacean baits.
A few cobia are also looking for meals around structure in the ocean. They’ll bite live baits or lures like bucktail jigs.
Karen and Tyler Lancaster, of Raleigh, with a pair of speckled trout they hooked on live finger mullet while fishing the ICW between Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with spanish mackerel around the shoals at Little River Inlet. The fish will bite casting lures like jigs and plugs or live finger mullet and other baits free-lined on the surface.
Tubbs Inlet is still hosting good numbers of flounder and red drum. Anglers can target both while casting finger mullet and other live baits on jigheads and Carolina rigs. The best action is usually near marsh banks, drop-offs, and structure like docks.
More reds and black drum are feeding around Tilghman’s dock. Both will pounce on live shrimp fished on the bottom near the structure.
Derek Covell, of Ocean Isle Beach, with a speckled trout that struck a live finger mullet in Shallotte Inlet.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been hooking smaller sea mullet, croaker, and a few spot recently. Shrimp are fooling most of the panfish. A few keeper black drum have been mixed in.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting live baits fished on the bottom.
Anglers working casting lures from the pier are hooking some bluefish, but spanish mackerel have been a bit scarce recently.
Live-baiters landed a 23 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.