Pamlico September 29, 2011
Wat Fugate with a red drum he caught and released during the September full moon near Swan Island in the Pamlico Sound.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the cooler weather has turned on the speckled trout bite in the lower Neuse River. The best action has been in the creeks and along the river shorelines, and most of the fish are falling for D.O.A. soft plastics and suspending MirrOlures.
There’s also still a decent flounder bite around structure and along the river shore. Soft plastic baits and live finger mullet are fooling most of the flatfish.
Some puppy drum are feeding in the same areas, and they’ll take an interest in the same baits and lures as the specks and flounder.
The striped bass bite is still excellent aroundNew Bernand downriver, and the season opens up October 1, so anglers will soon be able to take a few fish home. Mornings and overcast days have been producing a solid topwater bite, and soft plastic baits will fool the fish when they aren’t feeding on the surface. Targeting structure along the shorelines will offer anglers the best odds of connecting with the stripers.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are starting to see good numbers of speckled trout feeding in the creeks and along the shore of the lower Neuse River. Most of the fish are still on the small side, but anglers are holding out hope for some larger fish as the water continues to cool off. MirrOlure MR 17 and 18 lures have been the most productive baits lately, and natural colors seem to be the way to go.
Striped bass season opens up October 1, and the fish are on the feed aroundNew Bern.
The topwater bite has been good lately, so anglers may be able to find some exciting surface action while casting floating lures like Chug Bugs and Skitterwalks. When the fish won’t take the topwaters, D.O.A. CAL soft plastics and Rockin’ Wobble lures will get the job done.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the Pamlico and Pungo River flounder bite should stay solid through October.
The cooling water has turned on the speckled trout bite in the area, and it should only improve as fall wears on. Many of the fish are still undersized, but a decent number of keepers are in the mix.
Live baits will produce action with the specks, flatfish, and a few puppy drum feeding in the same areas, but anglers can also connect with all three on light tackle while working soft plastic baits on 1/8 and 1/4 oz. jigheads.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to pick up some speckled trout around Swan Quarter. A few flounder are mixed in, and both are falling for soft plastic baits.
The big red drum bite is tapering off, but anglers still hooked a few last week while soaking large cut baits aroundBrantIslandand elsewhere in thePamlico Sound.
Michelle Lilly with a slot red drum that bit a Gulp shrimp on a jighead along a Neuse River shoreline while she was fishing with her boyfriend, Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Donald, of Custom Marine, reports that some solid speckled trout reports are starting to come in from the Oriental area and nearby (with decent numbers of 2-3 lb. fish in the mix). Topwater plugs have been working well, and anglers are also catching fish on soft plastics and suspending hard baits.
A few puppy drum are mixed in with the specks and taking the same baits.
Striped bass are starting to bite again around the New Bern bridges, just in time for the season to open up in October. The heavy rains and runoff had the striper action slowed down, but it’s getting better by the day now.
