Pamlico August 29, 2013
Ed Barth, of Oregon, with a 46″ red drum he caught and released on fly tackle. He was fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the area’s big red drum have made their first spawn and are on the feed. Anglers are hooking good numbers while bottom fishing around drop-offs and shoals with cut mullet and menhaden.
Searching for pods of bait and signs of feeding fish is also producing hookups with the big reds for anglers casting soft plastics like D.O.A. Airheads under popping corks, offering opportunities for anglers fishing lighter tackle.
Slot-sized puppy drum and black drum are feeding around shorelines and docks in the lower Neuse River, and anglers are hooking good numbers of both on live shrimp. The shrimp are around in good number for anglers looking to cast-net baits, and some fat croaker have also been eating them.
Striped bass are still feeding around New Bern. Anglers can target them around stump fields and other shorelines structure early in the day with topwater plugs. Working jigs around deeper structure like bridge pilings and ledges is producing action when the sun is higher.
Michael Siengo and Don Lawrence, of Raleigh, NC, with a citation-class red drum that struck a chunk of mullet in the Pamlico Sound.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are still hooking big numbers of citation-class red drum while casting artificial lures around schools of menhaden and signs of feeding fish in under 10’ of water. D.O.A. soft plastics fished under popping corks are producing most of the action, but anglers are also connecting with the big reds while casting large flies in the same areas.
Anglers are also hooking good numbers of reds on cut baits fished on the bottom around shoals and other bottom irregularities, and the bait bite is generally on when it’s too windy to cast the artificials.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with large red drum in the western Pamlico Sound and lower tributary rivers. Most are taking an interest in large cut baits, but anglers are also hooking up while working soft plastics under popping corks.
There are still some tarpon around as well, and anglers may have a few more weeks to target them before the schools head out to the ocean and south for the year.
Max Navalany, of Greenville, with a red drum that bit a cut bait in the lower Neuse River while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding solid action with citation-class red drum while soaking large cut baits on the bottom and working soft plastics beneath popping corks.
The usual morning bite has been a bit slow around the full moon, but the fish have been feeding well in the late afternoon and evening hours. As the moon gets smaller, the morning action should turn on.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are reporting an improving speckled trout bite, but the best action is still towards the east past Bath. Soft baits like Gulps are producing most of the action with the specks.
Large red drum are feeding in the sound and the Pungo River. Soaking large cut baits on the bottom has been producing most of the action with the big reds.
Striped bass are feeding around Washington and the mouths of Goose and Blounts creeks. Anglers are fooling them on topwater plugs, and the bite should only improve with a bit of cooler weather.
