Pamlico – August 14, 2014
Bryan Bruggeworth with a 27″ red drum that fell for a live bait in the lower Neuse River near Oriental. He was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid slot and over-slot puppy drum action in the lower Neuse River near Oriental. The fish are feeding along the river shorelines. They’re striking D.O.A. soft plastics pinned to jigheads and under popping corks, as well as live baits on Carolina rigs. Some keeper speckled trout and flounder have been in the mix and biting the same things.
There are still plenty of striped bass feeding around shoreline structure like stump fields near New Bern, and anglers are hooking good numbers on topwater plugs early and late in the day. Working soft plastics on jigheads around deeper structure like ledges and bridge pilings is a better bet when the sun’s high.
Large citation-class red drum are feeding around the mouth of the Neuse and in the Pamlico Sound, but the massive influx of fresh water in the river has slowed the bait movement and the bite. Anglers have hooked a few of the giant reds over the last week while working large soft plastics beneath popping corks and on cut baits fished around deeper drop-offs, oyster reefs, and other spots.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that wind and rain have made conditions tough lately, but anglers have been hooking some citation-class red drum (40”+) around bait schools and other signs of life in the lower Neuse River. Large D.O.A. soft plastics fished under popping corks are fooling the big reds.
Bobby Mason with a 20″ flounder that bit a 4″ Gulp shrimp near Swan Quarter while he was fishing with Curtis Pelt.
Upriver, the striped bass bite near New Bern has been excellent lately, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on topwater plugs. Casting around shoreline structure like stump fields in the early morning hours is the best bet for connecting with the stripers.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding some excellent mixed-bag fishing in the Pamlico River. Puppy drum, speckled and gray trout, bluefish, flounder, and more are falling for live baits, soft plastics, and other artificials that anglers are casting along grassy shorelines in the area, making for some impressive catches.
The big “old” drum bite has also turned on, and anglers are hooking 40”+ red drum on large soft plastic baits fished beneath popping corks near schools of bait working in the river and sound and around signs of actively feeding fish.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some good action with citation-class red drum around the mouth of the Pamlico River right now. Most are falling for large cut baits fished around shoals and drop-offs in the area, but anglers also reported some sight-casting action with the big reds in the Pungo River early in the week as well.
The speckled trout and flounder action around Swan Quarter is still going strong, with most of the fish falling for Gulp and Z-Man soft baits. Anglers have also been picking up a few flounder near Bath on soft plastics and live baits over the past week.
