Pamlico – August 28, 2014
Duane Coen with a 48″ red drum he caught and released in the lower Neuse River after it struck a D.O.A. Airhead soft plastic beneath a popping cork. He was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the main body of giant, citation-class red drum in the area seems to be mostly staying in the Pamlico Sound, but anglers have high hopes they’ll be moving into the Neuse River soon. The early September full moon traditionally offers anglers some of the best action of the season for the big reds.
Anglers are catching a few 40”+ drum in the Neuse, both while working large D.O.A. soft plastic baits under popping corks and while soaking chunks of mullet around shoals and drop-offs in the area.
Fortunately, there’s been some excellent action with slot-sized puppy drum along the shorelines of the lower Neuse lately. The fish are patrolling the banks looking for crabs and other meals, and anglers are hooking them on D.O.A. shrimp beneath popping corks and smaller cut baits on Carolina rigs.
Eric Olsen cradles a 49″ red drum that attacked a D.O.A. Airhead under a popping cork while his father fights another big red in the background. They were fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the hard NE blow in recent days has made it impossible to fish for citation-class “old” red drum, but anglers have been making up for it with some excellent topwater striped bass fishing. The stripers are feeding along shoreline structure like stump fields near New Bern, and they’re eagerly biting popping and walking topwater plugs that anglers are working in the area. The best bite is early and late in the day, but the fish will often respond to topwaters all day long for persistent anglers. Casting D.O.A. soft plastics on jigheads around ledges and deeper structure will fool the fish when they’re not feeding on top.
Before the wind came on, the big red bite was going on, and anglers have been catching and releasing the 40”+ fish while working large D.O.A. popping cork rigs around signs of feeding fish in the lower Neuse River. The action should get back on track once the weather calms down.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are seeing some solid puppy drum action along the shorelines of the lower rivers and western sounds along the Inner Banks. They’re biting topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live and cut baits well.
Some tarpon have been in the area, but finding the fish and scoring a hookup can both be challenging. Fishing large cut and dead baits around areas where the fish have been spotted is the best way to tempt one to bite.
Large “old” red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and will also pounce on cut baits on the bottom.
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 are also hooking a few while working oversized popping cork rigs around bait concentrations and other signs of feeding fish in the area.
Brayden Wollard with a 22″ flounder that struck a white Gulp shrimp near Raccoon Island in the Pamlico Sound.
Smaller puppy drum are looking for meals along the shorelines of the lower river and connecting creeks, and anglers have been hooking big numbers on topwater plugs, popping cork rigs, soft plastics, and live baits.
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.
