Pamlico September 13, 2012
Dr. Robert Wilson, of Macon, GA, perpares to release a citation-class red drum he landed after it fell for a chunk of cut mullet while he was fishing the Neuse River off Oriental with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the big drum bite is still going strong in the Neuse River. Anglers continue to connect with plenty of the fish on chunk baits, and they are also hooking some while working large soft plastics beneath popping corks in the same areas.
Bluefish are feeding in the lower river and providing fast action for anglers casting a variety of lures on light tackle.
There’s been some solid mixed-bag fishing along the river shorelines and in the creeks, where anglers are hooking big numbers of puppy drum, speckled trout, and flounder on soft plastics and suspending hard baits. Live shrimp under a float are nearly irresistible as well. Most of the fish are on the small side, but a few keeper flounder and trout are in the mix.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the cooler weather hasn’t turned off the big red drum bite yet, and anglers should see a week or more of hot action before it slows as the fish move out to sea. Chunks of mullet fished on Owen Lupton rigs around shoals and other depth changes are the way to connect with the big reds.
Mixed bag fishing along the shorelines and in the creeks off the Lower Neuse River has also been productive lately, and anglers are starting to see some keeper flounder and speckled trout mixed in with the short fish. Soft plastic baits are the way to go for the specks and flatfish.
John Ruth with a striped bass that bit a topwater popper near downtown New Bern.
The Neuse striped bass season opens October 1, and the fish are there and waiting for anglers. Casting topwater plugs around shoreline structure in the early morning hours is one of the most exciting ways to connect with the stripers. Later in the day, soft plastics and Rock-N-Wobble lures fished around the bridge pilings and underwater structure is the way to go.
Donald, of Custom Marine, reports that anglers are starting to see better signs of speckled trout (with several citation-class fish caught over the past week) in the lower Neuse River. Most of the action has been in the creeks, and MirrOlure MR17’s in electric chicken and the new “Pro” colors have been producing most of the action with the specks.
Puppy drum are feeding alongside the specks, and they’re growing up, with some slot fish now mixed in with the many undersized ones.
The big red drum bite is still going strong in the lower Neuse and Pamlico Sound. Large cut baits fished on the bottom around depth changes are the way to go for the reds.
A few tarpon are still in the sound as well, but the cooler weather should have them vacating the area soon.
Jiggs Fey, of Raleigh, with a citation 46" red drum he hooked on a cut bait in the Pamlico Sound while fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the red drum bite is still going strong around the mouths of the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers and further south in the Neuse. Anglers are hooking most of the fish on large chunks of mullet and menhaden.
Anglers casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics from Bath down to Swan Quarter and the Sound are connecting with plenty of flounder, though the vast majority are undersized. Some speckled trout are mixed in with the flatfish.
The striped bass season opens up at the beginning of October, and anglers who’ve been catch-and-release fishing for them are reporting excellent numbers of fish in the Pamlico River awaiting the opening of the season.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that giant red drum are still the name of the game around the confluence of the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers. Anglers are catching and releasing solid numbers of the big (34-52”) reds on large chunks of fresh mullet pinned to Owen Lupton rigs.
There’s also been some hot mixed bag action lately on the Pamlico River, with speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder, and striped bass falling for live baits and soft plastics pinned to light jigheads. Anglers are finally seeing more keeper than undersized speckled trout, and it looks to be a stellar fall season with the specks.
