Pamlico – July 10, 2014
Stuart Creighton with a 24″ puppy drum that bit a D.O.A. CAL soft plastic in a creek off the lower Neuse River. He was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid inshore action in the wake of Hurricane Arthur with red drum, speckled trout, and flounder feeding along the shorelines of the lower Neuse River. The fish are scattered, though, so staying mobile with the trolling motor is imperative to success right now. Once anglers locate hungry fish, they may find multiples in a single spot.
Live baits like mud minnows on Carolina and float rigs have been outproducing artificials on most recent days, but anglers are also hooking up on soft plastics like D.O.A. Shrimp and CAL lures. The shrimp under a popping cork has been a particularly effective artificial combination lately.
The big “old” drum bite still hasn’t fully cranked up in the Neuse, but it should be getting started directly. As soon as there’s a strong push of bait from the sound into the river, anglers can expect the big reds to be right behind them. Casting large D.O.A. soft plastics under popping corks is the way to connect with the giant reds.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing plenty of bait and decent water conditions in the lower Neuse River despite Hurricane Arthur’s rain and wind. Working the shorelines of the lower river around Oriental has been the best strategy recently and is producing action with speckled trout, red drum, and flounder. D.O.A. CAL series soft plastics on jigheads and weedless hooks are producing most of the action.
Bud Frank, of Raleigh, with a slot red drum that bit a D.O.A. soft plastic near Oriental while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that the best action lately has been in the Pamlico Sound. Anglers working the shorelines and structure in the sound are connecting with speckled trout, flounder, and red drum. Soft plastic baits and topwater lures have been fooling the fish early and late in the day, but live and cut baits have been far more effective recently during the daytime hours.
Some areas are also holding good numbers of croaker and spot, and both will take an interest in bloodworms and shrimp on double-hook bottom rigs.
Large red drum and tarpon continue to move into the Pamlico Sound, and anglers should see the action for both fish heat up in the coming weeks. Large cut and dead baits on the bottom will fool both, and anglers can also cast soft plastics under popping corks for the big reds.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that not many anglers have been fishing in the wake of Hurricane Arthur, and the storm dirtied the water in the Pamlico River and connecting areas. Once the water cleans up a bit, the fishing will likely be similar to what anglers saw before the storm. Flounder and puppy drum have been feeding in the eastern portions of the Pamlico and in the Pungo River, and anglers can cast soft plastics or live baits to hook both.
There should also be some striped bass looking for meals around the bridges and other structure near Washington, and anglers can tempt them to bite bucktail jigs, eel lures, and diving plugs like Rattlin’ Rogues.
