Pamlico June 14, 2012
Anita and Matt O'Brien with a pair of chopper bluefish that bit topwater plugs near Cape Lookout Shoals while they were fishing with Capt. Charles Brown of Old Core Sound Guide Service.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are still catching big numbers of striped bass in the upper Pamlico and lower Tar Rivers, with the best action around Washington (and fish ranging to 30”). Storm Chug Bugs and Heddon Zara Spooks are some of the best topwaters.
Flounder and puppy drum are moving into the Pamlico River, with the best action around Bath lately. It’s welcome news for local anglers as the puppies were a no-show in 2011. Soft plastics like Gulp shrimp and Z-Man Minnowz will tempt bites from both the pups and flatfish. Local anglers also fish cut mullet on Carolina rigs to connect with the pups, but it’s more fun to cast topwater plugs like Zara Spooks and MirrOlure Top and She Dogs for exciting surface bites.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some puppy drum around Bath and Swan Quarter. Live baits or soft plastics rigged on jigheads are fooling the pups.
There’s also been a decent flounder bite in the same areas (with increasing numbers and size of fish). Gulp shrimp are top choices for the flatfish.
The speckled trout action is still quiet, likely due to all the rain inland bringing fresh water into the area.
Striped bass are still feeding around Washington, and anglers are hooking solid numbers while working topwater plugs around the bridges and other structure in the area.
Dillon and Woody Avant, of Fuquay-Varina, NC, with a pair of striped bass that fell for topwater plugs in the Pamlico River while they were fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout action around Oriental has been red hot lately, and the fish keep getting bigger (there are still some short fish but there’s been no difficulty putting together limits of keepers). June is one of the best trout months in the area, so the action should remain strong for a while. Soft plastics like D.O.A. CAL series baits on jigheads or Gulp shrimp fished beneath popping corks are top choices for the specks.
Puppy drum have begun to make an appearance in the Neuse River from Oriental up to New Bern (with fish to 30” already). Anglers can tempt the pups to bite the same baits as the trout or cast topwater plugs with success.
Flounder are in the many of the same areas as the reds, and specks and will pounce on soft plastic baits as well.
Striped bass are still feeding around New Bern and producing action for local anglers. Topwater plugs will tempt the stripers to bite early and late in the day, and jighead/soft plastic combos are the way to go when the sun’s high. The stumpfields and other shoreline structure or bridge pilings and deeper ledges are where to find the fish.
