Pamlico – August 4, 2016
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the striped bass bite on the Neuse has been excellent upriver in the New Bern area. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Twitchin’ Mullet have been putting plenty of fish in the boat, especially early and late in the day when the sun is not at full force. The DOA popping cork and artificial shrimp combo has been effective at tempting bites from the stripers throughout the day as it targets fish throughout the water column.
Puppy drum and specs are also mixed in with the stripers and will take interest in the same baits.
Further downriver there has been an excellent speckled trout and redfish bite in the lower river around marsh shorelines. Mixed in with the reds and trout is the occasional flounder, but it will be a while longer before the flatfish bite is in full force. Soft plastics on a jighead or weighted weedless hook is one of the top choices for targeting this mixed bag of fish.
The old drum bite hasn’t picked up noticeably yet, but with the full moon only a few weeks away, it won’t be long before they move into the lower Neuse to spawn.
Caleb Banks, of Kennel Beach, caught this striper while fishing in the Neuse River.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that that flounder fishing has been excellent with many days producing double digits of fish. Most of these flounder have been undersized throwbacks, but there are some keeper fish in the mix. A white or Chartreuse Z-Man MinnowZ on a jighead is the go-to bait for the flatfish.
The striped bass are feeding heavily in the same areas as the flounder. The stripers will take interest in a variety of artificial plastics fished below a popping cork or topwater poppers early in the morning.
Small black drum and redfish are mixed in and can be fooled using the same baits.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the recent winds have made fishing difficult, but persistent anglers can find fish to take home for the dinner table. Large trout have been feeding in the lower Neuse River in deep pockets and at deep shoreline ledges where the water is cooler.
Mixed in with these trout are large numbers of puppy drum that are feeding heavily on anything that moves. Live bait on Carolina rigs has been the most productive bait due to the wind, but the DOA Deadly Combo has been very effective in areas where anglers can get out of the wind and find calmer water.
Despite low water in the upper Neuse, the striped bass bite has been strong around New Bern. Many of these schooled up bass are in the 20”+ class which makes for plenty of fun on topwater plugs like the Storm Arashi Top Walker.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that there has been a scattered flounder and trout bite near Swanquarter, but with the recent hot weather it has been difficult to put together a decent amount of fish. Finding deep water and a break from the wind is the key to success with these fish.
Some large “old” drum have been caught in the lower Neuse, particularly around the mouth of the river. Anglers have had the best success hooking them at night when it isn’t as hot.
Plenty of tarpon have been spotted at the mouth of the Pungo River and throughout the reaches of the lower Pamlico, but they have been reluctant to bite. Fresh cut bait or live menhaden fished on Carolina rigs with circle hooks is your best bet for hooking up with either the tarpon or the big reds.
