Pamlico – June 4, 2015
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing good numbers of puppy drum along the shorelines of the lower Neuse River and western Pamlico Sound. Marsh banks have been producing the best fishing, and anglers are hooking the fish on soft plastics pinned to jigheads and fished beneath popping corks. A few speckled trout and flounder are mixed in and falling for the same baits.
Anglers are also connecting with all three fish around Oriental, but in lower numbers than around the mouth of the river.
Jerry Marshall, Sr., of Kenly, NC, with a puppy drum that struck a D.O.A. soft plastic under a popping cork in the lower Neuse River while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
More and more bait seems to be moving into the river by the day, so anglers may not have to wait long to see the first adult reds of the season arrive in the area.
Dave, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are see some speckled trout and puppy drum feeding in the lower Neuse River, along with a few legal flounder. Live mud minnows and D.O.A. CAL soft plastics are fooling all three fish.
Anglers are hoping to see more bait move into the river over the coming weeks, as that could bring in the first “old” red drum of the season behind the bait.
Many anglers have been heading to the beaches to fish lately, and they’re finding plenty of action with cobia, spanish mackerel, and bluefish within a few miles of shore.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of striped bass on the Roanoke River as they migrate downriver from Weldon after the spawn.
Both soft plastics on jigheads and a variety of patterns cast on fly tackle are fooling the stripers.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that there’s been a stellar post-spawn striped bass bite on the Roanoke River over the past week. Anglers can target the stripers with a variety of techniques, including soft plastics, live baits, and topwater plugs, but most have been casting flies and connecting with big numbers of fish recently. Larger streamers with weighted eyes have been the most productive offerings on the long rods.
Jennings, of North State Guide Service, reports that the inshore bite in the lower rivers and western sounds has improved recently. Anglers are seeing increased numbers of puppy drum in the area (most lower-slot fish). There have also been good numbers of speckled trout feeding in the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, and the reds and specks have been biting topwater plugs near dawn. After the sun rises, live peanut menhaden have been the best bet for both the reds and specks.
Better numbers of flounder (and larger fish) are showing up in the Pamlico Sound and also biting live menhaden.
Black drum are becoming more numerous in the area as well. Local anglers are fooling the striped drum while soaking fresh shrimp around structure like rocks and docks.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that most local anglers are still heading to the beaches to target spanish mackerel, cobia, and dolphin at present as the local waters have been a bit slow.
There should still be some striped bass feeding around Washington for anglers looking to bend a rod locally. Working Rattlin’ Rogues, bucktail jigs, and soft plastics around bridge pilings and other structure is one of the best bets to hook up.
A few speckled trout have been feeding around North Creek, but the bite hasn’t been great. Anglers are also connecting with an occasional flounder while dragging Gulp baits along the bottom.
