Pamlico June 7, 2012
Bo Katana, Adam Mitchell, and Bob Katana with a trio of striped bass they hooked on topwater plugs in the Pamlico River while fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite remains strong around Oriental, with more keeper fish by the week. Soft plastics like D.O.A. CAL lures, Gulp baits under popping corks, and suspending hard lures are all producing action with the specks.
A few flounder, puppy drum, and bluefish are falling for the same lures as the trout.
Some black drum are also showing up in the lower Neuse, and they will take an interest in fresh shrimp and occasionally soft plastics.
The striped bass bite around New Bern has become a bit less consistent with the back-and-forth weather, but anglers are still finding some fish willing to bite topwater plugs in the early morning hours around shoreline structure. Casting soft plastics around the deeper bridges and ledges is a better strategy during the midday hours.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still finding plenty of speckled trout around Oriental and elsewhere in the lower Neuse River. There’s a solid possibility of putting together limits of legal fish right now (and a few citation-class specks in the mix, too). Suspending hard baits and soft plastics like the D.O.A. CAL series are putting most of the specks in the boat.
Some puppy drum have been reported along the river shorelines and structure (like docks), with soft plastics and live mud minnows tempting them to bite.
Black drum have also moved into the lower Neuse. Shrimp on bottom rigs are top choices for the striped bottom feeders.
Tim Ellis, head of the NC State Spotted Seatrout Tagging Program, with a 20" trout that bit a pink D.O.A. CAL soft plastic near Oriental while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that striped bass are still feeding strong in the upper Pamlico and lower Tar Rivers around Washington (fish ranging from 6-30”). Topwater plugs continue to be very effective, with Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs producing most of the stripers.
Some flounder and puppy drum are showing up in the middle and upper Pamlico River, and soft plastic baits will tempt bites from both.
Speckled trout fishing has been hit-or-miss in the upper Pamlico, but there’s been steady action down towards the sound and in the Pungo River. Topwater plugs will also produce action with the specks, especially around the full and new moons. Soft plastics are also effective on the specks when they don’t want to bite on top.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has picked up considerably around Bath (though most of the fish are still on the small side). Gulp baits are producing the lion’s share of the action with the flatfish.
Anglers looking for striped bass around Washington are reporting a decent bite. Most of the fish are falling for soft plastic baits on bucktails or jigheads.
The trout bite has stalled out, likely due to all the rain in the area and inland last week.
