Pamlico – July 3, 2014
Matt Godwin, of Beaufort, NC, with a 31″ red drum he caught and released in the lower Neuse River after it fell for a D.O.A. CAL soft plastic. He was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that action in the Pamlico River has been a bit scattered lately, but anglers are finding some speckled trout and flounder in the extreme eastern reaches of the waterway.
The action has been better for red drum and keeper flounder (with a few speckled trout thrown in) out in the Pamlico Sound. Topwater lures are producing some action with the reds and specks, and anglers are fooling all three fish on soft plastics and live baits.
Citation-class red drum and a few tarpon have already shown up in the sound, and anglers can expect more of both on their way, so it pays to bring a few heavy rods in case opportunities arise even when pursuing the smaller game.
Anglers fishing the Pungo River are finding some mixed bag action with speckled trout, flounder, spot, croaker, and an occasional red drum. Fishing live baits in cleaner water has been the best bet in the Pungo.
Anglers fishing around Washington are seeing some decent striped bass action in the early morning and late evening hours. Most are falling for soft plastic swimbaits, but anglers are fooling a few on topwater plugs as well.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are connecting with puppy drum and speckled trout while fishing the shorelines of the lower Neuse River. Both are taking an interest in D.O.A. soft plastics fished on light jigheads and under popping corks, which are also fooling a few flounder and black drum in the same areas.
Large citation-class reds are feeding in the same areas in increasing numbers by the week. Anglers who spot signs of the big reds can toss larger D.O.A. soft plastics under popping corks to hook up.
Gerald Benton, of Snow Hill, NC, with his first topwater speckled trout, a 23.5″ fish that bit a Storm Chug Bug in the Neuse River near Minnesott Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Upriver around New Bern, more reds are feeding alongside striped bass around shorelines and stump fields in the area. They’ve both been biting topwater plugs well in the morning and evening hours and soft plastics and other subsurface baits when the sun’s high.
There’s a decent amount of live bait in the Neuse now, and anglers using live bait are connecting with the stripers, reds, and specks as well.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that despite the wind, rain, and lightning lately, anglers are finding some solid action in the Neuse River right now. Staying mobile and covering ground seems to be the name of the game lately, and trolling motors along with shallow water anchors like Power Poles are proving invaluable. Speckled trout and slot-sized puppy drum are feeding along the shorelines of the lower Neuse and biting D.O.A. Shrimp and CAL-series soft plastics. Anglers are also hooking both fish on topwater plugs early in the day.
Large “old” red drum are also showing up in the Neuse and in the sound. Once more bait shows up in the area, the bite should be wide open. Large D.O.A. Airhead soft plastics under popping corks are quite effective on the bigger reds.
Striped bass are still on the feed around New Bern and producing some stellar topwater action in the early mornings right now. Working stump fields and other structure along the shorelines is the way to connect with the stripers.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that most of the area’s fishing action has been well to the east of Washington lately, with the best bite past Bath. Good numbers of flounder and puppy drum are feeding along the river shorelines and creeks in that area, along with a few speckled trout (but most have been on the small side). Gulp and Z-Man soft baits have been producing most of the fish.
