Pamlico August 1, 2013
Christopher Georgantas with his first speckled trout, hooked on a Fin-S soft plastic while he was fishing with Capt. Mitchell Blake of FishIBX.com.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are starting to hook some citation-class red drum (40”+) on light-tackle and large D.O.A. soft plastics fished under popping corks in the lower Neuse River. Most of the action has come when anglers spot fish cruising or harassing schools of menhaden in 3-6’ of water along the river shorelines. Whenever anglers find a school of nervous menhaden in that zone, it’s quite likely the big reds are there or nearby.
There’s still good action with speckled trout, flounder, and puppy drum along the river shorelines near Oriental. Smaller D.O.A. soft plastics fished on jigheads or under popping corks are getting the job done on all three of the inshore predators.
There’s decent action with striped bass around New Bern whenever anglers have decent water levels and the winds are light to moderate. Casting topwater plugs around shoreline structure like stump fields early and late in the day will fool both fish. When the sun’s high, targeting deeper structure with soft plastics is the best bet.
Bryan Wilson, of Cary, NC, with a citation 41″ red drum he caught and released near Oriental while fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters. The red bit a live bait on light tackle.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that last week’s easterly winds have pushed some clean water into the Neuse River and the fishing’s been good lately as a result. Speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding along the river shorelines (with large examples of both fish in the mix) and taking an interest in soft plastic baits fished under popping corks or along the bottom on jigheads. Live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet have also been highly effective of late, and fishing them on circle hooks ensures the fish that anglers plan to release won’t be gut-hooked. Good numbers of flounder are mixed in with the trout and reds (but most are undersized.).
Large red drum are feeding on shoals near the mouth of the Neuse River. Anglers can cast larger artificials on light-tackle with success when they see signs of fish feeding around the shoals.
The big reds are also looking for meals around deeper ledges, where soaking large cut baits on the bottom will tempt them to bite. The big reds should be getting more numerous and hungry by the day as their spawning season approaches.
Sheppard and Burton Sydnor, of Raleigh, NC, with Sheppard’s first puppy drum. The 22″ fish bit a Gulp shrimp below a popping cork in the Pamlico River near Bath Creek while he was fishing with his grandfather.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are seeing and hooking some tarpon and large red drum in the western Pamlico Sound and around the mouths of the larger rivers. Large cut and dead baits fished on the bottom are the way to go for both fish. Anglers may also be able to cast large artificials at schools of drum they spot chasing bait near the surface.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to find some action with large red drum and tarpon from North Creek east to the mouth of the Pungo River. Both are taking an interest in cut and dead baits fished on the bottom.
Speckled trout, flounder, and puppy drum are all still feeding in the river. The best action (and largest fish) is still to the east from Swan Quarter to the sound, but anglers are catching all three fish further upriver as well. Gulp baits remain most anglers’ go-to lures for the specks, reds, and flatfish.
