Pamlico/Neuse – March 2023
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that speckled trout are still in the creeks, but over the coming weeks they will start to move out as they begin working their way downriver toward the sound.
Heading in the opposite, upriver direction is the beginning of the annual shad run. A few are already being caught, and this has anglers getting ready for the big push that happens over March and into early April.
Striped bass will also be on the move right alongside and behind these shad. The action has already been decent for the resident fish that hold in the region year-round.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that speckled trout action has been getting better, and the trend should continue throughout March. These mild and consistent weather patterns have resulted in some early season warmer water temperatures. For trout anglers, that has meant finding some fish already striking at topwater plugs.
When not as active, anglers are also having success with a variety of suspending twitch baits and the smaller 3-4” paddle tail soft plastics. Finding bait and nearby structure has remained key in targeting these schools.
Another big fishery for the area this time of year is the shad run. Anglers rigged with ultra-light tackle have a blast fishing small jigs or shad darts around the heavy, upriver trees and structure.
Dana, of Reel2Reel Fishing, reports that anglers have started to see some of the speckled trout moving around from the backs of creeks. Groups of fish are nowbeing found from about midway back out to the mouths, as these mild weather conditions allow the shallower waters to warm up a bit. On most days, the MirrOlure MR-17 and MR-27 suspending lures are producing strikes, with topwater plugs also having success on the warmest of days.
There isn’t much red drum action in the river system with most fish pushed out towards the ocean during these cooler months.
Anglers upriver have started to target shad with ultralight tackle and shad darts. That timing tends to coincide with the movement of striped bass as they also begin their spawning pattern.
Joe, of Caps Fishing Charters, reports that the mild winter conditions have speckled trout action about as good as it can be in the region. These fish are starting to move out of their wintering holes and head towards the creek mouths. Anglers are still finding most action fishing MirrOlures, Paul Brown suspending lures, and smaller 3” Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ.
Striped bass have begun their spawning run. Fish are still being caught in the area, but action won’t really pick up until later in spring when these schools return.
Colby, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout action has been steady through these cooler winter months, and anglers are now getting the trout to start striking at topwater plugs, which is a great sign that things are turning more towards a spring pattern.
Anglers are also catching some rockfish in both the Tar and Pamlico rivers while targeting some of the same structured areas for trout.
The annual shad run is starting to kick off for anglers looking for some quality, light tackle action.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that anglers are seeing the great annual shad run starting to kick off in the Tar and Roanoke river systems. This action will only ramp up in the coming weeks.
The striped bass are also starting to run on these same river systems. March should see steady numbers of fish moving upstream, while the really large concentrations will probably hold off until April.
Anglers have been finding a great quality of stripers on the Pamlico and Tar rivers this winter. With larger fish than most years past, it could really shape up to be an epic spring bite. Based solely on the mild winter, also expect to see another great run on the Roanoke River.
There has been a lot of speckled trout around, and they are already actively feeding. Being able to avoid any major freezes over the past few years has allowed these trout to mature, with a bunch of quality fish (to 24”+) being caught.
Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that speckled trout action has been really good as we move closer to spring. There are a bunch of the 16-18” class of fish back in the creeks, with some real quality specimens mixed in. Sub-surface Rapala Twitchin’ X-Raps and MirrOlures are producing most of the strikes, with some bigger trout (20”+) starting to hit topwater plugs. Topwaters are a great search bait if coming across a nice pocket of warm water in these creeks, otherwise target the holes toward the back, especially those with flats nearby.
Red drum are around, though finding quality numbers is pretty uncommon in these colder months.
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that speckled trout are feeding well, especially during these stretches of warm weather patterns. Anglers are catching limits of quality fish, which could be a great sign moving forward.
Striped bass fishing has been phenomenal. Anglers on the Albemarle Sound have experienced some 50-100 fish days as these stripers stage up before their spawning runs. With this pattern just starting to kick off, anglers have to be prepared for these fish to be moving a lot, sometimes seemingly disappearing from where they were the day before.
Red drum fishing has been good most of the winter for anglers sight casting jigs on flats throughout the sound. There are also black drum on these flats feeding on shrimp.
Moving into the end of March and early April, gray trout will start to push in from the ocean and stage up over the structure and wrecks in the sound. Look for water temperatures to hold around 70 degrees (and no less than 60 degrees in the evenings) before these schools really move in.
