Pamlico/Neuse River – July 2024
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers have been catching better numbers of puppy drum as more reds move more into the river. Bait is everywhere right now, and this strong presence of bait moving in should have the bite getting even better as more fish move in with the bait.
The occasional old drum is mixed in the action, though this bite is more a bycatch of targeting other fish, until later in the summer and fall when they move into a spawning cycle.
A few tarpon are being seen, not only in the sound but also well up the Neuse.
Spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish are around in the lower parts of the river.
Some sheepshead are being found around hard structures in the area.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that red drum (18-44”) have been pretty consistent for anglers casting spoons, with gold and chartreuse color patterns being the best options. Many of these reds have been pushed up shallow (1-1.5’), with the occasional bull red drum caught when fishing the 3-5’ areas. When artificials aren’t producing, a bunch of menhaden are around for anglers looking to fish live or cut bait on Carolina rigs. Bait fishing should produce a red drum bite, but you may also get a lot of stingrays and skates.
Black drum are being found as far up as the Trent River for those fishing cut shrimp around docks.
Bluefish, for the most part, have moved back down towards the sound.
A little push of striped bass is in the area, as the stripers make their way back downriver after their spring spawn.
Dave, of Pamlico Pirate Charters, reports that there is plenty of bait stacked up in the river from Oriental to New Bern. With the influx of bait, anglers are seeing a good number of slot-sized red drum, with the occasional upper-slots mixed in. The numbers seem to be getting better by the day as these fish migrate in with the bait.
A few really nice speckled trout are coming out of the lower Neuse. These fish have been set up around structure such as stumps, docks, and grass in 3’ depth areas. Both popping corks and natural baits are producing strikes.
Striped bass action has been good from the ferry line down to Oriental. Target the same structured areas, such as stump fields, as you would for trout. Both swimbaits and live menhaden have worked well.
When there’s a lot of wind in the forecast, anglers should look for wind-blown points and really focus on those areas that have bait pushed up onto them.
Kevin Hanna, of Ohio, hooked this red drum on the Neuse River using a Lil Jon lure. He was fishing with Capt. Brad Smith of Gunny B Outdoors.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout have mostly moved out into the deeper waters of the main river as they work their way toward the sound. Target some of the deeper points in the lower river if you’re trying to find specks.
Red drum are also moving along shorelines and points in the river. Topwater plugs, popping corks, and Carolina-rigged cut baits all have various levels of success depending on the day.
It isn’t quite time to be targeting the big bull drum just yet, but there are fish being seen.
A ton of flounder are around, and they’re hitting just about any baits worked along the bottom.
A bunch of bluefish are hanging out around the mouth of the Pungo and Pamlico rivers.
Chandler Eberly, of Garner, NC, caught this 24.75″ speckled trout in the waters of Pamlico County using cut menhaden.
Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that moving into summer, anglers are really starting to have a lot of success with topwater plugs both early and late in the day. As the day wears on, anglers will have success switching over to soft plastics or live bait. Tactics are basically similar while targeting either speckled trout or red drum, as they both are staged up alongside each other. Finding bait is key, and you should start your search for bait around areas of structure and points (both in the main river and around creek mouths).
Despite the lack of season, plenty of flounder are mixed in for baits that get anywhere near the bottom.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports anglers fishing in July should be adjusting their patterns, starting efforts in deeper areas that will have slightly cooler water temperatures, due to the warm weather patterns with water temperatures already getting into the 80-degree range.
Speckled trout have mostly been pushed east and out into the sound across to the barrier island side. Targeting both sandy bottoms and grass flats with slightly deeper (3-5’) depths have been best when trying to locate the trout. Popping corks and smaller (2-3”) soft plastics have made solid bait choices.
The area is starting to see more sheepshead setting up around pilings and rock piles. Some black drum (5-6 lbs.) are also being caught around hard structure.
Some scattered bull red drum are already being caught from the mouth of the Pamlico River out to the inlets.
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that there has been phenomenal speckled trout fishing being had out in the sound. Some trips are seeing triple digit catches, including bigger fish (to 7 bs.), even though the bigger fish are supposed to be all spawned out. The trout action has been happening in deeper water around holes, live bottom edges, and deeper points. Heavier (1/2 oz.) jig heads with Z-Man soft plastics have been working best.
There has also been a nice bite on slot-sized red drum while fishing cut mullet (when the conditions aren’t right to target the trout).
