Pamlico/ Neuse – June 2023
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that red drum action has been getting steadily better moving into the warm weather months. These groups of reds are scattered along shorelines and points from the sound up past the ferry line. The sizes vary, but many are keeper-sized fish, and the bite has also included some scattered big drum.
Striped bass fishing has been pretty good for anglers searching for that topwater bite. Structured areas up closer to New Bern are great places to look for the resident fish feeding on bait moving up the river.
Nate Graham, of Camden, NC, caught this striper while fishing on the Roanoke River. He was fishing with Capt. Justin Haddock, of Haddock’s Guide Service.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that speckled trout action has really fired up. The areas from the ferry line down to the sound seem to have the better bite. Topwater plugs being fished early are doing the trick, with smaller 3” Z-Man paddle tails under a popping cork working well once the sun is up. Most of the fish are being found in shallower depths (2-4’ of water).
Striped bass fishing is getting better for topwater anglers fishing the shoreline structures around New Bern.
There has been a lot of bait moving into the river, and this bait migration is starting to really help the red drum bite. Anglers are finding reds in a wide variety of sizes (14-45”), and they’re pushing baits long the shoreline grass flats and river edges. The lower river areas have been best, seeing both better numbers and more of the scattered over-slot drum.
Bluefish are just about everywhere throughout the river, and flounder, though you can’t keep them, are also being found just about everywhere along the main river shorelines.
Joe, of Caps Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding that speckled trout are mostly moved out of creeks and are along the main river. Smaller groups of red drum are also staged up along these same shorelines.
Both species are a bit scattered, and anglers will do best using artificial baits to move through more areas. Finding bait pushed up against a windswept point provides a great starting spot.
Bluefish are mixed in just about anywhere you go.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that both red drum and speckled trout have been pretty scattered as they each move into their own warmer water patterns.
Red drum have mostly been around flats and grass points on the main river. These fish are spread out in smaller groups as they push in from the sounds to feed on bait leaving the creeks. Sizes have varied, but most catches have been slot and just over-slot, with a few scattered bulls in the mix. Anglers are having success fishing plastics under popping cork setups or cut baits on smaller Lupton-style bottom rigs.
Trout have been from the creek mouths up to mid-creek areas, and they’re staged around drop-offs and points. Topwater plugs have worked for enticing strikes both early and late in the day. Artificial shrimp (Vudu or D.O.A.) rigged under popping corks make another great setup for scouting out these groups of trout.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that anglers have found the high action, topwater striped bass fishing nothing less than phenomenal. All the main river systems—the Pamlico, Neuse, and Roanoke—are seeing this success as these fish move back downriver post-spawn. Anglers are finding most catches to be an 18-23” class, with smaller fish being the ones more scattered in the bite.
Fishing the larger profile topwater plugs definitely has helped in enticing strikes from the larger fish around. Topwater action can be weather dependent, but with cooler and cloudy mornings, the bite has lasted up until around 11:00 am.
Anglers fishing around the creek mouths are finding sporadic speckled trout action on a mix of both smaller and large trout.
The red drum bite has been picking up in the river as more slot-sized fish move in with all the bait. There are some over-slot drum around as well.
There are a lot of bluefish in the area (1-4 lb. class), and they are keeping anglers busy on light tackle setups.
Philip Maginnes, of Wilmington, caught (and released) this red drum using a Z-Man Beer Run Diezel MinnowZ. He was fishing in the Pamlico Sound with Capt. Grey Davis, of Hyde Guides.
Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that anglers will do well by targeting speckled trout in the lower part of the river as we move into these warmer weather months. The deeper channels holding bait around Swan Quarter can be a good kicking off point.
Red drum are showing up in better numbers throughout the river. Most anglers are finding this to be a nice class of upper-slot and over-slot reds staged up on the main river shoreline ledges out to the sound. With these reds spread out, topwater plugs have had a lot of success scouting out potential areas. There are scattered large reds being landed, too, but not nearly enough to strictly target yet.
Grey, of Hyde Guide, reports that the speckled trout action has picked up. The numbers haven’t been the best, but the quality of trout has been exceptional, with a 19-28” class not being uncommon. Soft plastic jerk baits in a variety of color patterns have provided the action needed to entice strikes.
There are some puppy drum being caught by anglers fishing the flats with cut mullet or artificial jigs and spoons.
For both species, anglers have found working the creeks early to be best, and then moving out into the sound as the day moves on.
There are some random schools of big drum feeding on bait pods. The numbers aren’t enough to strictly target, but it is not a bad idea for anglers to be prepared if the situation arises.
Out on and over structure, the bluefish and gray trout action has been excellent
