Pamlico – September 10, 2015
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the area’s giant red drum bite is finally getting as good as it should be, and anglers are hooking solid numbers of the big reds when the wind cooperates. The most exciting action has still been casting big soft plastic swimbaits under D.O.A. popping corks on light tackle (3500 size reels spooled with 30 lb. braided line). Anglers looking for the big reds should key on areas with plenty of bait present and approach the activity slowly and quietly to avoid spooking the fish.
Anglers fishing bait are also connecting with the reds around shoals and drop-offs. Cut mullet is the best bet, but mullet have been a bit difficult to find this year, so anglers considering bait-fishing should plan ahead to ensure they can get some baits.
Smaller puppy drum and speckled trout are feeding along the shorelines of the lower Neuse River. Anglers are hooking both on downsized soft plastic baits fished under popping corks or on weedless hooks and jigheads.
Striped bass are still on the feed around New Bern, and anglers are looking forward to the opening of the keeper season at the end of the month. Most of the stripers are falling for topwater plugs like Storm Chug Bugs and Rapala Skitterwalks, with the best fishing in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Stump fields and other structure near the shorelines are producing the lion’s share of the action with the stripers.
Bodie (age 7) and Kevin Taylor, of Surf City, NC, with a citation red drum that attacked a chunk of menhaden while they were fishing the lower Neuse River.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent action with citation-class red drum in the lower Neuse River at present. Most of the big fish are falling for D.O.A. soft plastic baits under popping corks, but anglers are also hooking a few on topwater plugs and subsurface swim baits.
Slot and over-slot red drum are feeding in the shallower water near the river’s shorelines, and they’re biting smaller versions of the same offerings.
The topwater striped bass bite around New Bern remains solid. Anglers are hooking most of the fish while working surface plugs around stump fields and other shoreline structure early and late in the day.
Kyle Dubois with a 31″ red drum that bit a Z-Man soft plastic under a popping cork near a grass line at Point of Marsh.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are catching and releasing big numbers of large red drum in the area’s lower rivers and western sounds. Most have been falling for artificial lures, with large swimbaits, jig/soft plastic combos, topwater plugs, and crankbaits all effective in recent weeks. The best of the action has come while working areas where anglers spot bait on the surface or actually sight the big reds, and anglers have had success from 2’ of water out into the 15-20’ depths lately.
Flounder fishing has taken off as well, with solid numbers of keeper fish feeding along the shorelines in the same areas where anglers are finding the big reds. Both artificial lures and live baits have been fooling the flatfish, and live finger mullet seem to have produced the best action with the larger flounder lately.
Eric Dudleck with a citation-class red drum he hooked on a D.O.A. Clacker/Airhead combo while paddling the Neuse River off Oriental.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers continue to connect with solid numbers of giant “old” red drum while fishing the lower Pamlico River and western sound. Anglers are hooking some of the fish while soaking the traditional cut baits around shoals and holes, but more are falling for artificials and providing some exciting battles on relatively lighter gear. Large soft plastic baits fished under popping corks and big topwater plugs have been the most effective artificials recently.
Chris Suggs, of Snow Hill, NC, with a citation red drum he caught and released after it struck a D.O.A. swimbait beneath a popping cork while fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder are the main inshore species dominating the area’s fishing action. The best of the bite is still around North Creek and Bath, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on Gulp and Z-Man soft baits.
Some smaller speckled trout are mixed in, giving anglers some hope of a decent fall trout season.
Less reports of action with large red drum are coming in, but anglers targeting the fish are still hooking decent numbers around the mouth of the Pamlico River. Both cut baits fished on the bottom and large soft plastics under popping corks will fool the big reds.
The striped bass bite around Washington remains solid, with anglers hooking good numbers while working topwater plugs around the bridges and other structure near town.
