Pamlico October 10, 2013
Will (age 6) and Brent Glover with a puppy drum that bit a Gulp bait under a popping cork in the Pamlico River.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the giant red drum bite in the lower Neuse River isn’t dead yet. Anglers are still hooking good numbers of the citation-class reds while working large D.O.A. soft plastic baits under popping corks. Targeting schools of menhaden and mullet or other signs of life in less than 10’ of water is the best bet for the popping cork action.
Speckled trout, smaller red drum (from under to over-slot), and a few flounder are feeding along the river shorelines in the lower river and falling for smaller popping cork/soft plastic combos.
Around New Bern, anglers are connecting with striped bass, more reds, and a few speckled trout while working topwater plugs along shoreline structure early and late in the day.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers saw a solid start to the keeper striped bass season in the Neuse River, but the water quality has been inconsistent and so has the bite in the past few days. There are still plenty of fish around, but they’re on the move and can’t be counted on to feed in the same places day to day. Casting topwater plugs around shoreline structure like stump fields in the early morning hours is one of the best ways to find the hungry stripers. When the sun’s higher, working swimbaits and jighead/soft plastic combos around deeper structure like bridge pilings will help anglers put the stripers in the boat.
Red drum and speckled trout are feeding a bit downriver from the stripers, and they will also take an interest in topwater plugs early in the day. Soft plastics and suspending hard lures will fool both fish when they don’t want to bite on top.
Steve Crook, of Raleigh, NC, with his first citation red drum, hooked on a popping cork rig in the Neuse River near Oriental while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Some flounder are mixed in with the reds and specks, and they’re biting live baits and soft plastics.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid action with citation class red drum in the lower Neuse River near Oriental. D.O.A. Airhead soft plastics worked under popping corks are fooling good numbers of the big reds when they’re feeding in shallower water.
Anglers can also target the large drum in deeper water around ledges and oyster rocks with large cut baits fished on the bottom.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of slot drum in the Pamlico and Pungo rivers while working topwater plugs, soft plastics, and popping cork rigs. Some speckled trout, striped bass, and flounder are in the mix as well and also biting a variety of soft plastic baits.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers saw the keeper striped bass season get off to a good start last week. Anglers are hooking the fish around structure (like bridges) near Washington. Casting topwater plugs in the early morning hours, then switching to subsurface lures during the middle of the day is the way to connect with the stripers.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding in the lower parts of the rivers around Broad Creek, Chocowinity Bay, and Swan Quarter. Gulp baits and topwater plugs are attracting attention from both fish.
Anglers are also picking up a few flounder on live baits and Gulps around Bluff Point.
