Pamlico November 17, 2011
Capt. Brian Shumaker with a striped bass he hooked on the fly rod while fishing the Neuse River near New Bern with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite has been excellent recently in the creeks off the Neuse River between New Bern and Oriental (with good numbers of larger fish finally showing up). Some puppy drum are mixed in with the trout, and both are falling for MR17 MirrOlures and a variety of soft plastic baits.
The striped bass bite is still going off around New Bern, and it should continue or even improve as the weather cools off. Anglers are finding solid topwater action many days (particularly with a northeast wind) while casting around stump fields and other shoreline structure. Casting soft plastic baits around the bridges, drop-offs, and artificial reef is producing action when the fish are reluctant to commit to the topwaters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are finding big numbers of smaller speckled trout in the creeks and along the shorelines in the lower Neuse River, an encouraging sign for upcoming years. Some larger trout are mixed in. The bigger fish seem to be showing a preference for hard baits like MirrOlures and Rapalas, and the smaller specks are having a tough time turning down Gulp baits.
A few puppy drum are feeding alongside the trout, but they’ve been a little tough to come by overall.
Kip Gilgo with the 3.56 lb. speckled trout that won the Pamlico County Shrine Club Speckled Trout Tournament. He hooked the winning speck on a secret bait in a Neuse River creek.
Striped bass fishing is still red hot aroundNew Bern, and anglers can only expect it to get better as fall wears on and the water temperatures drop. Casting topwater plugs is producing some action with the fish in the early mornings and on overcast days, and subsurface baits like wobblehead/soft plastic combos are attracting attention the rest of the time.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers are connecting with trout and striped bass around the bridges and creeks from New Bern on down towards the sound. Gulp baits and MirrOlure 17MR’s are producing the lion’s share of the action with both fish.
Flounder and puppy drum have been a bit hard to come by lately.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that striped bass fishing in the Pamlico River is going strong and should continue improving over the coming weeks. Anglers are tempting them to eat topwater plugs on many days, and fooling the fish with Rattlin’ Rogues and soft plastics on jigheads or wobbleheads regularly. The bridge pilings have been producing some of the most consistent action.
Deborah and Tom Merrill and Tom Palumbo with speckled trout and striped bass they hooked on Z-Man soft plastics while fishing the Pamlico River with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Speckled trout are scattered in the Pungo River down to Rose Bay. Anglers are fooling the specks with MirrOlure 17 and 18MR’s.
The flounder bite has slowed down and is likely about done for the year.
