Pamlico – September 24, 2015
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are fighting through hard E and NE winds to get on the water and catch fish at present, but the bite has still been good.
Large red drum are on the feed in the lower Neuse River, and they’re biting cut baits fished on the bottom along with D.O.A. Swimbaits beneath popping corks. The cut baits are often a better option when the wind is up and anglers have trouble finding signs of feeding fish on the surface.
The action should hold up through the September full moon, with a few fish scattered throughout the area in October.
The area’s keeper striped bass season opens up October 1st, and the fish have been biting well upriver around New Bern. Working topwater plugs around shorelines and stump fields has been very effective recently and should continue into the keeper season. The topwater action is best early and late in the day.
Capt. Pat Jones and Wyatt Dickson with a citation-class red drum that struck a chunk of mullet while they were fishing our of Cedar Island.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are hooking solid numbers of big red drum while fishing the lower Pamlico and Neuse rivers and the Pamlico Sound. Large artificial lures including swimbaits, crankbaits, and topwater plugs will all fool the reds when anglers can find the right conditions to work artificials. Soaking cut mullet and other baits on the bottom is the way to connect with the big reds when the wind’s up or anglers don’t want to cast lures.
Joe Elmore, of Greensboro, NC, with a 38″ red drum that he caught and released after it struck a cut menhaden near a menhaden school in the lower Neuse River. He was fishing with John Odell.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are still seeing some action with large, citation-class red drum in the lower Pamlico River and western sound, but the season is winding down. Both cut baits fished on the bottom and large soft plastics are fooling the reds, and anglers should still have a few chances to chase them before the fish head south as the water cools.
Light-tackle fall action with flounder and slot-sized red drum is just around the corner (with October producing the best flounder fishing of the year). Keeper flounder and slot-sized red drum will be feeding in the creeks and along the shorelines of the Pamlico, and anglers can hook both on Z-Man soft plastics. Big numbers of small speckled trout are in the same areas and should provide some additional action.
Striped bass are looking for meals further upriver around Washington. The stripers will bite topwater plugs or soft plastics readily.
Wes Hightower with a citation red drum that attacked a D.O.A. popping cork rig with a 5″ Swimbait while he was fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers continue to connect with some giant red drum while fishing the lower Neuse River from Oriental to the sound. Most are falling for large D.O.A. soft plastic baits under popping corks, but anglers can also target them successfully with similar Pop-N-Fly rigs when the winds aren’t howling.
The action with the citation-class reds should remain strong until early or mid-October, as some fish still seem to be moving in from the sound.
Striped bass are feeding around the stump fields and other structure upriver near New Bern, and the keeper season opens in October. Casting topwater plugs early and late in the day is one of the best bets for anglers looking to connect with the stripers.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers continue to hook big numbers of flounder around Bath and in the Pungo River. Most are falling for Gulp and Z-Man soft plastic baits, and the action should only improve as the water begins to cool. Some smaller speckled trout are feeding in the same areas and biting the soft baits as well.
Anglers are also finding plenty of white perch in the Pungo. They’ll bite Beetle Spins or smaller Rat-L-Trap lures.
There’s still some action with large red drum around the mouth of the Pamlico, but the fish won’t be around for much longer this season. The bite’s been best in the morning hours lately, and anglers are hooking the fish on cut baits fished on the bottom and soft plastics under popping corks.
Striped bass are feeding upriver around Washington, where anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs and subsurface lures like Rattlin Rogues and soft plastics. The keeper season for the stripers opens October 1, and anglers should have plenty of fish to chase once it does.
