Pamlico September 12, 2013
Windy and Peter Overgaard with their first kayak large drum, which fell for a D.O.A. Airhead under a popping cork in the Neuse River near Oriental.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers continue to see some tarpon in the western Pamlico Sound and lower tributary rivers, and the fish are still feeding before beginning their fall migration south. Anglers soaking live and dead baits around areas where the giant fish are rolling on the surface stand the best odds of hooking up.
Large red drum are feeding in many of the same areas, and anglers are hooking them on cut and dead baits in deeper water and while casting Yee Ha swimbaits under popping corks in shallower spots.
Speckled trout and flounder are feeding along shorelines in the lower parts of the rivers. Anglers are hooking solid numbers of the specks (ranging from 6-16”) on topwater plugs and soft plastics.
The flounder (most 5-18”) are taking an interest in Gulps and live baits.
Bluefish are feeding voraciously in the Neuse River, and anglers can hook big numbers while casting metal jigs on light tackle to fish feeding on the surface.
Striped bass season opens at the beginning of October, and the fish have been feeding strong along shoreline stump fields and deeper structure like bridge pilings near New Bern.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are still finding plenty of action with citation-class red drum while casting large D.O.A. Airhead and CAL soft plastics beneath popping corks. Most of the action is taking place in the lower Neuse River, where anglers should search for schooling baitfish like menhaden or signs of feeding fish in under 10’ of water for the best results.
Big numbers of small bluefish are feeding all over the lower Neuse, with a few spanish mackerel mixed in. Anglers can hook both while trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal jigs to areas of surface activity.
Dana Rybak, of Raleigh, with a citation red drum that fell for a D.O.A. Airhead soft plastic in the Neuse River near Oriental while she was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Some puppy drum, flounder, and speckled trout are feeding along the Neuse River shorelines, but not many people have been chasing them with the big drum action going strong. Casting soft plastics on light jigheads or beneath popping corks will fool all three of the inshore predators.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking big numbers of citation-class red drum in the lower Neuse River. The traditional method of fishing dead and cut baits along shoals and ledges is producing plenty of action with the reds, but many anglers are hooking up while casting artificials on lighter tackle as well. Popping cork rigs with D.O.A. Airhead soft plastics have been the most effective artificials for the reds, and most anglers casting for them are stealthily drifting or using trolling motors to work shallower ledges and sloughs in the lower part of the river.
Anglers are hooking some striped bass, speckled trout, and puppy drum while working topwater plugs and soft plastic baits along the shorelines near New Bern, and the upcoming striped bass season looks to be a good one.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of large red drum (40-50”+) while working large soft plastic baits under popping corks in the Pamlico Sound and lower rivers nearby.
Fishing cut baits along drop-offs and other bottom contour changes is also producing plenty of action with the big reds.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing steady striped bass action along the bridge pilings, stump fields, and other structure around Washington. Many are falling for topwater plugs early in the day, with subsurface lures like bucktail jigs, Rattlin’ Rogues, and Rat-L-Traps producing when the sun is high.
There’s still decent puppy drum, flounder, and speckled trout action in the Pungo River and between Swan Quarter and Englehard. Gulp baits are fooling all three fish.
And anglers fishing the lower river and Pamlico Sound are hooking citation-class red drum on cut baits and large soft plastics under popping corks.
