Pamlico June 21, 2012
Ben Patat, of Greensboro, NC, with his first keeper flounder, caught 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 Neuse River fishing has been excellent lately, with action from New Bern down to the mouth of the river. The topwater striped bass bite around New Bern has been solid recently, with good numbers of fish (to 26”) falling for Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs along shorelines and adjacent structure.
Speckled trout have been feeding from New Bern on down (with smaller fish towards New Bern and larger fish to 20” around Oriental). Soft plastic baits under popping corks are producing most of the action with the specks, with D.O.A. shrimp and Gulp baits the most productive.
Decent numbers of flounder are feeding along the shorelines from New Bern to Minnesott Beach, and they’ve been susceptible to soft plastics as well.
Black drum are in the area, too, and bottom fishing with shrimp at deeper structure like bridge and dock pilings has been the most effective way to hook them; however, anglers are also hooking some alongside the trout and flounder on soft plastics.
Enormous numbers of small puppy drum (8-12”) are schooling from Goose Creek to Oriental. They’re small now, but it’s an excellent sign for the fall fishing and the years to come.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been solid around Oriental lately (with lots of small fish but limits of keepers an easy possibility). D.O.A. shrimp have been producing most of the action with the specks.
Some puppy drum and flounder are mixed in with the specks along the river shorelines from Oriental to New Bern. They’ll also bite the D.O.A.’s, but most anglers are hooking up on Gulp baits or cut and live baits.
Menhaden have shown up in the river in force for the first time this year.
Richie, of East Side Tackle, reports that the puppy drum and flounder bite is still going around Bath and Swan Quarter and other spots closer to the sound. Live and Gulp baits are fooling both fish.
Some striped bass are still feeding around the bridges and other structure near Washington, though not many anglers are targeting them right now. The best options for the stripers are topwater plugs early and late in the day and bucktail jigs and soft plastics when the sun is higher.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are still finding an excellent striped bass bite in the upper Pamlico River near Washington. Zara Spook and Storm Chug Bug topwaters have been producing most of the action with the stripers.
Big numbers of smaller puppy drum (most 10-15” with a few keepers) are moving into the river, with large concentrations near Bath. Soft plastic baits will attract their attention.
Flounder action is getting better by the day, and has been consistent lately (with a lot of 12-14” fish but some 15-20” keepers mixed in as well). Soft plastics and live baits are top choices for the flatfish.
Speckled trout are feeding from Bath to the Pungo River (again with plenty of small fish but keepers to 22” in the mix as well). They’ll sometimes bite topwater plugs early in the day and soft plastics or suspending hard lures when they don’t want to feed on the surface.
