Pamlico September 15, 2011
Stewart Gibson, of Rocky Mount, NC, with a 48" red drum that fell for a chunk of cut mullet in the Pamlico Sound. He was fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the “old” red drum action in the lower Neuse River and Pamlico Sound is still excellent. The fish are falling for large cut baits on Owen Lupton style rigs with a fixed weight, short leader, and circle hook. The best spots are shoals, drop-offs, and oyster beds in the area.
Speckled trout, flounder, and puppy drum are feeding along the shorelines and in the creeks off the lower river. Live baits or soft plastics like D.O.A.’s are attracting attention from all three.
The water around New Bern continues to be dirty from the recent rainfall and runoff, but the striped bass action is still going solid. The best bite has been just downriver from New Bern where the water cleans up a bit. There, the fish have been busting bait on the surface in the early mornings and striking topwater plugs readily. When they’re not feeding on top, soft plastics on jigheads will tempt bites from the stripers.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the large red drum bite is still on in the lower Neuse River. Anglers are catching some fish as far up as Minessott Beach, but the best action has been around where the river empties into the Pamlico Sound, as the fish are preparing to migrate across the sound and out to sea. Fishing cut baits around shoals and other bottom irregularities in the area is producing plenty of action with the big reds (some to 60 lbs.).
Speckled trout are feeding around the creeks near Oriental, and anglers are also picking up some puppy drum and flounder in the same areas. Live baits or scented soft plastics like Gulps will attract attention from all the inshore predators.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s still some solid citation-class red drum action going in the Bay River and the sound up around Englehard. Large cut baits fished around drop-offs, oyster bars, and other bottom structure will tempt bites from the big drum.
The Pamlico River near Washington is suffering from near-zero dissolved oxygen levels due to all the stormwater runoff, severely impacting the fishing possibilities in the area.
Daniel Corley, of Chapel Hill, NC, with a 9 lb., 8 oz. flounder that bite a live finger mullet along the base of the Morehead City port wall. Weighed in at Anchorage Marina.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the large red drum fishing around the mouth of the Neuse River and out in the Pamlico Sound is still going strong after Hurricane Irene. Clients are releasing good numbers of the 40”+ fish while fishing large cut baits near drop-offs, shoals, and oyster bars in the area.
Speckled trout fishing has been decent around Hobucken and in the creeks of Hyde County. Finding areas with bait (generally peanut menhaden) is key to finding the fish.
