Pamlico March 31, 2011
Matt Godwin, of Beaufort, NC, and Capt. Gary Dubiel, of Spec Fever Guide Service, with a 25.5" speckled trout that fell for a D.O.A. CAL soft bait in a creek off the lower Neuse River. The fish was tagged and released after the photo.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout and puppy drum fishing in the Neuse River has been excellent in recent weeks. Anglers are finding both fish in the creeks off the main river between New Bern and Oriental. As over the winter, many of the trout are smaller (12-14”), but anglers are seeing some nicer fish (18-22”) and a few 25”+ specks in the mix as well. Soft plastics on jigheads and popping cork rigs, as well as suspending hard baits like MR17 MirrOlures, are producing most of the specks and reds.
The striper bite is still excellent in the Neuse around the bridge pilings and drop-offs near New Bern and just upriver. D.O.A. jighead/soft plastic combos and bucktails with soft plastic trailers have been striking the stripers’ fancy lately.
Some big panfish and largemouth bass are feeding around New Bern as well, and anglers can hook up with some fat crappie and other sunfish species while working smaller lures near the river banks.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that with the warming waters, anglers are starting to see some action with flounder, speckled trout, and puppy drum around the mouth of the Pungo River and in the sound near Swan Quarter. The warming water has baitfish and the gamefish becoming more active, and anglers are fooling the predators while casting pearl white Gulp and Bass Assassin soft baits.
The striped bass bite is slowing down, but anglers are still having some good days with them while casting artificials around bridges and other structure.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers are still hooking up with some striped bass while working lures around the New Bern bridges.
Speckled trout and red drum are feeding in the creeks from New Bern down to the sound, and anglers are hooking them on soft plastics and suspending hard baits.
Offshore, boats are reporting some solid action with yellow and blackfin tuna, wahoo, and a few gaffer dolphin off Beaufort Inlet.
Jo Ann Rose with a striped bass she hooked on a soft plastic bait while fishing the lower Roanoke River with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Dave, of Minnesott Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that the striper bite around New Bern has been excellent lately (with lots of 5-8 lb. fish) and anglers don’t need to head to Weldon to enjoy fast striped bass action. Most of the action is around the bridge pilings and other structure, and anglers are hooking the fish on jighead/soft plastic combos or soft eels fished on wobbleheads.
Anglers who feared the hard winter would take a toll on local speckled trout populations will be happy to know that the trout bite has cranked back up, and anglers are catching and releasing excellent numbers (with a few fish to 25”+) in the creeks off the Neuse. Some puppy drum are mixed in in the lower river, and both fish are falling for soft plastics and suspending hard baits by MirrOlure and Yo-Zuri (particularly effective when the bottom is too mossy to fish a jig/plastic combo).
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the Roanoke River striped bass bite has been excellent and is only getting better as the water warms. The best action lately has been in the Three Sisters area (where the Roanoke, Eastmost, and Cashie rivers join), and the fish will continue moving up the rivers to reach their spawning grounds in mid-April. Most of the fish are currently falling for Z-Man soft plastics on jigheads.
Creeks off the Pamlico River have been producing action with more stripers, puppy drum, and a few speckled trout and flounder, also on soft plastics. The water temperatures are in the mid-60’s in most creeks on sunny days, and the warmer water is setting the stage for the mixed bag fishing on the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers to hit full swing.
