Pamlico August 23, 2012
Derrell Wiggins, of Williamston, NC, with a summertime speckled trout he hooked while fishing the Pamlico River with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that some north and east winds over the past week have brought better water into the Neuse River and improved the fishing, and the trend should continue as summer turns to fall.
The citation-class “old drum” bite is getting better by the week, with double-digit numbers of releases on some recent trips. Most of the big reds are falling for large cut baits around bottom contour changes.
Some tarpon are in the Neuse River, but the bite’s been slow lately. It should improve a bit as the water turns over more.
Flounder, a few speckled trout, and big numbers of small puppy drum are feeding along the river shorelines, especially around points and in the creeks. Casting soft plastics on jigheads or beneath popping corks will fool all three for light-tackle thrills.
Huge numbers of small bluefish are chasing bait from Oriental down to the sound, and anglers looking for some fast action can hook them on just about any lure.
The striped bass action in New Bern is still going strong, with a good topwater bite around shoreline structure and schools of bait in the early morning hours. Casting soft plastics around bridge pilings, ledges, and other deeper spots is producing more consistent action during the day.
Noah Charles, from PA, with a citation 40" red drum he caught and released after it struck a chunk of mullet in the Neuse River while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the big red drum bite is getting more consistent in both numbers and sizes (with fish to 57” released recently). Most of the fish are falling for large cut baits fished near shoals, oyster rocks, and other depth changes and bottom structure.
Speckled trout and flounder are still feeding along the river shorelines and in the creeks, where anglers can hook them on soft plastics or live mud minnows.
The striped bass bite in New Bern remains consistent as well, and anglers can tempt the stripers to bite topwater plugs early in the day and soft plastic/wobblehead combinations when the sun’s higher.
Donald, of Custom Marine, reports that anglers are seeing an improvement in the citation-class red drum bite, with decent catches reported from the areas from Minessott Beach down to the sound. Large cut baits are fooling most of the big reds. Some tarpon are in the same areas and will also take an interest in the cut baits.
Flounder and speckled trout are feeding along the area’s shorelines and in the creeks, and soft plastics like Gulp baits will tempt bites from both.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are still finding fast action with flounder, puppy drum, and speckled trout in the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers. Most of the fish are small, but there are plenty around and providing light-tackle thrills for anglers casting artificial lures and live mud minnows and finger mullet.
Bobby Downes, of Wilmington, NC, with a 45" red drum that he caught and released after it bit a chunk of mullet near the mouth of the Neuse River while he was fishing with Capt. Craig Price.
There have been more keeper trout around than in the past few years, an excellent sign for the upcoming fall season.
Big drum are feeding in the sound and around the river mouths, with steady fishing but nothing hot and heavy yet. The bite should turn on substantially over the next few weeks. Fishing large cut baits on the bottom around shoals, drop-offs, and other bottom irregularities is the way to connect with the reds.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a decent amount of action with large red drum for anglers soaking big cut baits in the sound.
A few tarpon are still around, but they’re very scattered.
Flounder are feeding around Bath and in the Pungo River, where Gulp baits or small live baits will tempt them to bite.
Speckled trout are also looking for meals in the Pungo and on over to Swan Quarter, and they’ll respond well to Gulps or suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR17’s.
