Pamlico/Neuse – June 6 2019
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that good numbers of slot-sized red drum are being caught along the banks of the lower Neuse. Carolina-rigged cut mullet has been the most productive bait, but anglers are having success with Gulp soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Flounder numbers seem to go up as more bait pushes into the river. Most fish being caught are just short of legal, but larger flounder (to 5 lbs.) have been hooked around a few of the deeper points.
Striped bass fishing has been slow for this time of year, though anglers are finding some fish around Slocum and Hancock creeks.
Speckled trout have moved out of the creeks, and anglers with MirrOlures and popping cork rigs are landing good numbers of 15-19” fish.
Bluefish are hitting soft plastics fished in the deeper channels.
Pauline Brego with a puppy drum she caught while fishing near Oregon Inlet with Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Fishing.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite has been on fire, as larger (to 22”) fish are being caught along the main river shoreline. Casting Storm soft plastics under a popping cork has been most productive when worked around wind-blown grass points.
Slot-sized drum are in the same areas as the trout, and soft plastics have worked well in enticing a few strikes.
A couple “old” drum have been reported in the area, though this bite is still a few weeks away from really kicking off.
Bluefish are in the deeper areas, and they have not been picky when hitting baits.
Legal flounder (to 19”) are falling for soft plastics worked along the bottom. Anglers have found areas with shoreline structure to be the most productive.
Ed Wicker and crew with a limit of keeper trout caught on the lower Neuse River with Capt. Jennings Rose, of North State Guide Service.
James, of Neuse River Adventures, reports that the speckled trout bite has been strong, and anglers are locating most of the trout just outside of creeks in the lower Neuse. Soft plastic paddle-tail baits fished under a popping cork has been the most effective setup, though topwater plugs are getting some hits early in the morning.
A few slot-sized red drum are in the same areas around Oriental, and they are being caught on soft plastics, cut bait, and topwater plugs.
Flounder are around the deeper banks (in 4’ of water) and hitting soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads worked along the bottom.
Striped bass action is primarily located around shoreline structure.
Jennings, of North State Guide Service, reports that speckled trout are being caught in good numbers by anglers fishing along the shoreline with D.O.A. soft plastic shrimp. Lighter, 1/8 oz. jig heads have helped keep baits in the strike zone, and Pro-Cure scents add to the number of strikes.
Keeper flounder are being found in better numbers by dragging soft plastics along the bottom.
Puppy drum are holding from the main river and into creek mouths. Popping cork rigs have been getting the most bites.
A few bluefish are in the area, and their aggressive feeding has them not picky in regards to bait selection.
Black drum are hitting shrimp fished around docks and shoreline structure.
Sheepshead are feeding on live fiddler crabs around channel markers and deeper dock pilings.
Stephen, of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout are consistently being found along the banks of the lower Neuse. As the season moves along, anglers are finding larger fish (to 6 lbs.) more actively feeding on Saltwater Assassin soft plastics under D.O.A. popping corks. Topwater (walk the dog) style plugs are getting strikes in the mornings, but hot weather and high winds have kept the bite from lasting throughout the morning.
Large flounder (to 5 lbs.) are falling for on Z-Man Jerk ShadZ on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Bluefish have been in the deeper holes and tearing up anglers’ soft plastics.
Red drum are being caught with consistency now that the area has loaded up with bait. Anglers are catching all sizes of fish, from puppies to citations, on a wide variety of baits. Carolina-rigged cut or live baits are successful when fished near docks, while anglers working grass banks and points prefer soft plastics on jig heads or under a popping cork.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout are prevalent in the lower end of the Pamlico River. Gulp and Z-Man soft plastics under a popping cork have been the most productive baits, with MirrOlure MR-17s also catching a few fish. Topwater plugs have worked in the early morning, but the topwater bite has been short-lived, only lasting through daybreak.
Puppy drum are in the same areas, and they’re hitting soft plastics and Carolina-rigged mullet.
Flounder are being caught by anglers working the grass banks with soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that anglers have been having a great time while fishing topwater plugs for striped bass on the upper Roanoke River. The bite was phenomenal this year, and anglers are having a tough time leaving the fish biting.
The Pamlico River has been loaded with speckled trout, and popping cork rigs have been the most successful bait in recent weeks.
Anglers are finding red drum moving into the lower areas of the river. Cut baits and soft plastics are both producing fish.
Flounder are along the deeper grass banks. Soft plastics have been catching the most fish, with anglers adding scent to the baits finding more success.
