Pamlico – August 17, 2017
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the Swan Quarter area has produced some solid trout fishing. Tossing soft plastics rigged on jig heads or under popping corks has done the trick. A few flounder have also been in the mix when trout fishing, and they’ve ranged from 12-20”.
Puppy drum have been feeding well along the banks in the Pamlico River. Gulp soft plastics and fresh cut mullet are working best to land limits of fish. Big drum have also started to move in to the area, and large pieces of fresh cut mullet have been the key to landing these citation reds.
Tarpon fishing has remained solid in the sound and in the river. Most anglers have had success when fishing live croaker and spot on the bottom.
Crystal Babson with a 42 lb. red drum caught while fishing with live bait in the Pamlico Sound. She was fishing with Capt. Bryan Goodwin of Native Guide Service.
Todd, of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, reports that old drum have shown up in the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. Most anglers are having luck targeting shoals and ledges with fresh cut mullet, but when the conditions are right, fish have been willing to hit the popping cork rig. Large pods of menhaden and mullet have moved into the river, and the old drum have been hanging near them.
Speckled trout have started moving back in to the river from the sound. Targeting deeper pockets of the river has produced several citation fish (up to the 5.75 lb. mark). Topwater plugs, as well as live croaker and pinfish, have been the baits of choice.
Those targeting flounder have noticed an increase in both numbers and size. Most anglers have found limits of fish in the 2-4 lb. range while fishing with live mullet and mud minnows on Carolina rigs. White Gulp and Z-Man plastics have also done the trick.
Puppy drum are feeding well in the area and have been landed anywhere from the mouth of the Neuse River all the way up to New Bern. Topwater plugs, soft plastics under popping corks, and live shrimp under float rigs have all worked well. When fishing with live shrimp, anglers have also landed black drum and striper.
Tarpon have moved into the area in good numbers. Anglers are finding fish from the Pamlico Sound into the Neuse River.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that striper, speckled trout, and puppy drum have been feeding well from New Bern down to the mouth of the Neuse River. A variety of topwater plugs, soft plastics on jig heads, and imitation shrimp under popping corks have all worked well.
A few flounder have also been landed when working soft plastics off the bottom.
Old drum have arrived in the Neuse River. Targeting them with popping corks has been the best way to land these trophy fish. Anglers rigging Storm Coastal 360 GT’s have had great success.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that trophy redfish have made their way in to the Neuse River in good numbers, and they’ve been willing to strike a number of baits. Topwater baits and Yee Ha swimbaits have been the top producers for these large reds (that have hit the 50” mark).
Flounder fishing has been picking up, and most fish have been landed while working soft plastics off the bottom and live baits on Carolina rigs. Puppy drum have been in the mix as well. They’re hitting on soft plastics, with Salt Water Assassin lures producing best.
Speckled trout have been feeding near the banks in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs, as well as soft plastics, have worked well in getting the trout to eat.
Tarpon have shown up in the sound, as well as in the Neuse River. Anglers putting their time in and covering water have found success.
James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that bait has moved in to the Neuse River in high numbers, and the fish are feeding well. Striper, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder have been landed during all hours of the day.
Carter Gaskins, of Ayden, NC, with a 22” flounder. He was fishing with fresh cut shrimp on the Neuse River near Oriental.
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that big drum fishing is starting to heat up, and fish to 54” have already been landed. Fishing fresh cut mullet around ledges and breaks has been the ticket.
Puppy drum have been feeding well in the area, too. Targeting sandy banks with topwater plugs has been a great way to locate and boat double digit numbers of reds. Rapala Skitterwalk topwaters have been the lure of choice, and some fish have been in the 30-36” range.
When fishing around sandy bottom areas, flounder in the 2-6 lb. range have been feeding well. Most fish have hit the Z-Man PaddleZ in natural color patterns. There have been lots of fish landed in the 10-14” range, but anglers willing to weed through the smaller fish can be rewarded with a 4-6 lb. fish.
Trout fishing has slowed down some, but anglers tossing topwater plugs around marsh points have hooked a few fish. Those willing to cover a good amount of water are catching limits of fish.
