Pamlico June 27, 2013
Brad Whitaker with a doubleheader of striped bass that struck Z-Man soft plastics in the lower Roanoke River while he was fishing with Capt. Mitchell Blake of FishIBX.com.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that speckled trout are scattered in the lower Neuse River around Oriental, but there are plenty around and willing to bite for anglers who stay on the move. The river shorelines and areas of deeper structure have been the places to look for the specks recently, and anglers are hooking them on live mud minnows or soft plastic baits jigged along the bottom.
Striped bass are still feeding well around New Bern when anglers get a break from the SW winds. Anglers are hooking most while working topwater plugs around stump fields in the early morning hours. Good numbers of bass are also falling for D.O.A. Airhead baits rigged weedless and worked through the stumps or along the surface on a faster retrieve.
There’s also been some exceptional red drum action in the same areas for anglers casting Airheads and D.O.A. Deadly Combo popping cork rigs (with some upper-slot fish in the mix).
Citation class “old” red drum have also been reported in the sound and around the mouth of the Neuse, confirming suspicions that they’d make an early appearance this year. Anglers can hook the reds on soft plastics and other artificials if they spy them feeding on top or pushing wakes along the shorelines. Blind-fishing with large cut baits around bottom irregularities is also a time-tested way to hook up with the big reds.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that there’s still a solid striped bass bite in the Neuse River around New Bern for anglers casting topwater plugs in the early morning hours. Shoreline structure like stump fields is producing some of the best action.
Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, with a red drum that struck a D.O.A. Airhead rigged weedless along a stump field near New Bern on the Neuse River.
Puppy and slot-sized red drum are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are hooking a few on topwater plugs as well. Casting weedless soft plastics like D.O.A. Airheads in the vicinity is producing more action with the reds.
Speckled trout, flounder, puppy drum, and a few black drum are all feeding downriver near Oriental and taking an interest in soft plastic baits on jigheads and under popping corks.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that there’s been some stellar post-spawn striped bass action on the lower Roanoke River lately, with triple-digit numbers of releases a real possibility. The fish haven’t been picky, but Z-Man soft plastics have been highly effective lately along with Clouser Minnows and other offerings for fly-rodders.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that rain has hampered anglers’ efforts by dirtying and cooling the water a bit lately, but there’s still some action to be had in the area, especially in Hyde County waters around Swan Quarter and other spots.
Puppy drum are still feeding in the Pamlico and Pungo rivers, where they’ll take an interest in Gulps or live baits.
Big numbers of black drum are also making an appearance around Swan Quarter, and they have trouble turning down fresh shrimp baits.
The water clarity has slowed the speckled trout bite of late, but the action should be back on track as soon as the water improves.
