Pamlico August 16, 2012
Austin (age 15), and Phil Green, from Clayton, NC, with a quartet of keeper flounder (the largest 20") they hooked on Gulp baits in the lower Neuse River while fishing with Ivey Green.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are connecting with citation-class red drum around shoals and ledges in the lower Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. The action’s been best in 8-12’ of water, and cut baits like chunks of mullet and menhaden are the top baits.
Some tarpon are feeding in the sound, and anglers have released a few using the same techniques.
Some of the big reds are feeding along the shorelines as well, and popping corks with 4-5” soft plastic baits will tempt them to bite.
Speckled trout, flounder, and some smaller puppy drum are feeding along the river shorelines as well, and they’ll bite smaller soft plastics under popping corks. Topwater plugs and hard plastic minnow imitations are also proving effective in the early morning hours.
There’s also been a hot topwater striped bass bite around New Bern lately.
Johnny Haithcox, of Stokesdale, NC, and Kip Anderson, of Schuyler, VA, with 45" and 38" red drum they caught and released in the Pamlico Sound after the fish struck cut baits while they were fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are hooking decent numbers of speckled trout and flounder along the river shorelines and in the creeks and bays off the lower Neuse River (where they’ve been feeding in a bit more open water). Soft plastic baits, hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s, and live mud minnows will tempt bites from both. They’ll also produce some puppy drum that have been in the same areas.
Anglers should also pay close attention to any bait moving along the shorelines, as it may be followed by some citation-class “old drum.” They’ll bite larger soft plastics readily.
The bait fishing for the big reds is turning on as well, and anglers released decent numbers over the past week in the lower river and out in the sound (which has been a bit better). Large mullet chunks are producing most of the action with the big reds.
Donald, of Custom Marine, reports that the big red drum are showing up in the river in increasing numbers, and anglers are hooking some on large cut baits and artificial lures.
Decent reports of tarpon hookups are also coming in, with most of the action from Oriental downriver to the sound.
Brian Collins, of Surf City, NC, with a 47" red drum he caught and released in the Neuse River near Oriental after it fell for a chunk of cut mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
The flounder bite is getting better in the lower Neuse, with more keepers than anglers have seen all season. Most of the fish are feeding along the river shorelines and around structure, and soft plastics or small live bait swill get attention from the flatfish.
Not many anglers have been speckled trout fishing lately, but there are a few around and biting in the creeks.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking a few large red drum and tarpon while fishing cut baits on the bottom in the lower Pamlico River and the sound, and the action should get better as summer transitions towards fall.
The speckled trout and flounder bite in the creeks and along the river shorelines remains solid, with good numbers of smaller puppy drum also in the mix. The areas around Bath and North Creek have been particularly productive lately, and Gulps or live baits will fool all three fish.
