Pamlico September 26, 2013
Logan Hessert, of Greenville, NC, with a 23″ striped bass that bit a Gulp shrimp near the mouth of the Pamlico River.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still catching solid numbers of citation-class red drum following the spawn on the last full moon. Fishing large cut baits on the bottom is producing a few, but anglers are connecting with even more while working D.O.A. soft plastics under popping corks around bait concentrations and signs of feeding fish. The action should remain solid for a few more weeks with some straggler fish around even longer.
Speckled trout, striped bass, and puppy drum are feeding along the shorelines of the river, especially around areas of structure. Anglers are hooking all three on D.O.A. soft plastics and suspending hard lures.
The striped bass season opens October 1, and anglers looking to take some of the tasty fish home can find them while working topwater plugs and soft plastics around structure near New Bern.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that despite recent high winds, anglers are still hooking plenty of large red drum in the Neuse River while working big D.O.A. soft plastics under popping corks in 4-12’ of water where anglers spy bait or signs of the big reds.
Bill Miller, of Knoxville, TN, with a citation red drum he landed after it struck a D.O.A. soft plastic under a popping cork while he was fishing the Neuse River with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Smaller puppy drum are feeding with speckled trout along the shorelines of the lower river, with a few in the creeks, too. Some flounder are mixed in, and all three are taking an interest in scented and unscented soft plastics under popping corks and on jigheads.
Anglers are hooking some striped bass along with a few more speckled trout and puppy drum near New Bern, but the action hasn’t gotten red hot yet. As fall progresses, casting topwater plugs and soft plastic baits around shoreline structure and deeper areas like ledges should produce plenty of action with the stripers.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are still connecting with big numbers of citation-class red drum in the world class fishery in the western Pamlico Sound and lower tributary rivers. Both fishing cut baits on the bottom and casting artificials like large topwater plugs, soft plastics, and spoons, spinners, and bucktails are producing action with the big reds.
There’s also been a solid flounder bite in the lower rivers, with live and soft plastic baits both tempting plenty of bites from the flatfish. Speckled trout are feeding in many of the same areas (though most have been undersized lately) and biting soft plastics and live baits.
Grant Garey (age 9) with his first citation red drum, hooked on a D.O.A. Airhead soft plastic beneath a popping cork while he was fishing the Neuse River with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
The striped bass bite around New Bern has been excellent lately, and anglers will be able to take some of them home after the keeper season opens October 1. Working topwater plugs around stump fields and other shoreline structure early and late in the day is the way to tempt bites from the stripers. Anglers can also cast soft plastics around deeper structure like bridge pilings when the sun is high.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding some stellar speckled trout action around Bath and in Goose, Broad, and Blounts creeks. Most are falling for topwater plugs and Gulp baits. The trout bite should only get stronger as the weather continues to cool.
Some large red drum are still feeding around the mouths of the rivers and in the sound. The bite is slowing down a bit, though, and the fish will soon make their way out to the ocean.
The keeper striped bass season opens October 1, and anglers are already reporting good action around the bridges and other structure near Washington. Topwater plugs and subsurface lures like Rattlin’ Rogues, Rat-L-Traps, and bucktail jigs are all effective on the stripers.
