Pamlico August 18, 2011
Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, and his grandson, Marcus "Buddy" Greene, with a citation red drum that bit a chunk of cut mullet on an Owen Lupton rig in the Neuse River near Oriental. The big red was hooked in the corner of the mouth and released after the photo.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that citation-class red drum have moved into the Neuse River and the action is heating up. Anglers are getting multiple bites from the reds (to 50”) while fishing large cut baits around depth changes and submerged oyster beds, and the action has been good in the daytime as well as at night.
Some tarpon are still in the area, but windy conditions have made it tough to go looking for the rolling fish.
Puppy drum fishing has been decent in the shallows along the river shorelines.
Good numbers of flounder are also feeding along the shorelines and adjacent structure. Live baits and Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish and pups.
A few smaller speckled trout are in the same areas.
The striped bass bite is still excellent around New Bern, where anglers are catching big numbers of fish (from small to nearly 30”) while casting topwater plugs and jighead/soft plastic combos around the bridges, stump flats, and drop-offs.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the big red drum bite is on in the Pamlico Sound, with double-digit numbers of releases possible in the afternoons and evenings (most fish 40-50”). Cut mullet are the best baits (due to their tough skin), but menhaden, spot, and croaker will also work. Owen Lupton style rigs with a fixed egg weight, short leader, and circle hook make up the preferred tackle, as they lip-hook the big reds and facilitate a healthy release.
Chumming with 5-10 whole mullet that have been split open and scored on the sides with a knife will attract more attention to anglers’ hook baits.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of large red drum in the Neuse River from Minnesott Beach on down to the sound. Large cut baits on Owen Lupton rigs are the way to go for the big reds, with mullet preferred but menhaden a close second.
Flounder, puppy drum, and speckled trout are scattered along the shorelines and under docks. Casting Gulp baits or small live baits is the best way to tempt all three to bite.
Anglers are still tallying big numbers of striped bass releases while casting topwater plugs around the stump fields near New Bern.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been picking up across from the PCS plant. Anglers are catching a few small speckled trout along with the flatfish, and both are taking an interest in Gulp baits.
Large citation-class red drum have moved into the Pamlico River, but the bite’s still been better down in the sound.
Donald, of Custom Marine, reports that the big red drum action has been on from Fairfield Harbor and Oriental down to the sound. Large cut baits are producing the lion’s share of action with the reds.
Capt. Richard Andrews, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, with a citation-class red drum he caught and released after it bit a chunk of mullet on an Owen Lupton rig in the Pamlico Sound.
Some tarpon are still feeding in the Neuse, and anglers reported seeing a few as far upriver as New Bern recently. They’ll also take an interest in cut baits fished on the bottom.
Anglers are reporting a few speckled trout from the points and creekmouths in the lower Neuse River. MirrOlure MR14 and 17 lures have been the hot baits lately.
The flounder bite has also been good in the Neuse recently, with most of the fish falling for Gulp baits in deeper holes near the shorelines.
Striped bass are still feeding around New Bern. Topwater plugs will produce plenty of action with them.
