Pamlico July 4, 2013
Jim Stegal, of Monroe, NC, with a citation-class red drum that bit a soft plastic bait under a popping cork in the Pamlico River while he was fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that there’s been some decent fishing for the few anglers who’ve ventured out in the rainy, windy conditions in recent days. The stretch of the lower Neuse River between Minnesott Beach and Oriental has been the most productive zone with the strong south and southwest winds recently, producing good numbers of both speckled trout and puppy drum recently.
Both fish are mixed in size, with sublegal fish feeding alongside some much larger. Soft plastics fished on jigheads and under popping corks have been the way to go for the specks and pups, and anglers will often find the drum feeding tight to the bank and the specks along depth contour changes further off the shoreline. An occasional flounder and black drum is mixed in with the trout and puppies.
The wind combined with low water has affected the striped bass bite around New Bern a bit, but anglers who target lee shorelines early in the day should still be able to hook a few stripers on topwater plugs. Some slot-sized red drum are feeding in the same areas and also taking an interest in topwater plugs.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that wind and rain have been making fishing tough and keeping many people off the water over the past week, but those who are getting out are catching some speckled trout, puppy drum, and flounder in the lower Neuse River.
Jigging D.O.A. soft plastics along the bottom is producing most of the fish, with the best action along the shorelines. Anglers are baiting up with live mud minnows with success, too.
Black drum are also making a showing in the lower river (with both good numbers and some solid fish). Targeting dock and bridge pilings with live fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp is the way to connect with the striped drum.
The best bet for anglers looking to get out on the windy days is to fish the lee side of the river, using a shallow-water anchor to fish with the wind at their backs.
James Larry Link III, of Lexington, NC, with a black drum that bit a D.O.A. Deadly Combo rig in the Neuse River near Oriental while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Large red drum have shown up in the sound and around the mouth of the Neuse. Once the weather calms down, anglers should be able to find them feeding around depth changes and bottom structure in the area. Large cut baits are tough for the big reds to resist.
Mitchell, of FishIBX.com, reports that despite the rain, anglers have seen a stellar striped bass bite in the Roanoke River this past week (with 100-fish days for anglers tossing both lures and flies). Topwater plugs, suspending hard lures, jig/soft plastic combos, and a variety of flies are fooling the fish, and the red-hot action should hold up for another week or two.
The Pamlico River is also hosting a hot post-spawn striper bite, but most of the speckled trout, puppy drum, and flounder have moved down towards the sound due to the influx of fresh water.
Starting around the mouth of the river and working west is the best bet for anglers looking to connect with the mixed bag of saltwater species, and once anglers locate some fish, they should be in solid numbers as the fresh water has concentrated their feeding areas.
Some tarpon have already been seen in the sound and around the river mouths, so anglers only need some decent weather to begin the quest for a silver king.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the rain and wind has kept many anglers off the water lately, but when conditions calm down, they should still be able to find some action.
Puppy drum are feeding downriver in the Pamlico and Pungo systems, and they will take an interest in Gulps or a variety of natural baits.
There have also been good numbers of black drum looking for meals around Swan Quarter, and fresh shrimp will tempt them to bite.
Speckled trout action is still a bit off in the area, likely due to the dirty water, but anglers should be able to connect with some trout in the lower rivers once conditions improve.
