Pamlico Winter 2010-2011
Michelle Lilly, of Oriental, NC, with a 30" red drum she hooked in a local creek on a D.O.A. CAL jighead/plastic combo while fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers saw solid fishing for puppy drum and speckled trout in the Neuse River near Oriental over the past weeks, and the action should remain strong as long as the water temperatures stay near or above 50 degrees. Most of the trout have been biting while anglers are casting to shorelines, points, and drop-offs in the area.
The pups are biting in the backs of local creeks and around grass lines and wooded structure. Both fish are falling for soft plastic baits like D.O.A. CAL lures, with scented Gulp baits having a slight edge on cooler days. Decent numbers of flounder have been mixed in with the specks and reds, so a December grand slam isn’t out of the question.
Striped bass fishing has also been good in the Neuse, with anglers finding some fish in the creeks upriver from Oriental and consistent action around hard structure and drop-offs in the New Bern area. Soft plastic shad tails and Rat-L-Traps are top subsurface lures for the fish, and anglers should also keep a rod rigged up with a topwater plug in case the fish start busting baits on the surface, especially likely during low-light conditions.
Fishing live eels around structure is also a proven technique for the stripers, which should provide year-round action for area anglers.
Dave, of Minnesott Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of smaller speckled trout in the creeks and bays off the Neuse River. A few larger fish are mixed in, and anglers are hooking the specks on soft plastics, Rapala and MirrOlure hardbaits, and live mud minnows. As long as there’s no major freeze, the trout bite should continue all winter long.
Striped bass fishing has been solid around the bridges and the artificial reef at New Bern (some fish to 7 lbs.), with more fish feeding further up the Neuse and in the Trent River. Trolling and casting with diving plugs, Rat-L-Traps, and a variety of soft plastic baits will attract attention from the stripers.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout in the creeks off the Neuse River. MirrOlure 17 and 18MR’s have been producing the majority of the speck action, with chartreuse, electric chicken, and 808 the hottest colors.
Resident striped bass are feeding around the bridges at New Bern, and anglers can hook up with the stripers on wobblehead eels and chrome Rat-L-Traps.
Helen Brown, of Raleigh, NC, with a 25", 5.5 lb. red drum she hooked on a bottom rig baited with fresh shrimp in Smryna Creek near Davis, NC.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some striped bass around the Bath artificial reef while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and other lures. Casting Rat-L-Traps is another good option.
Speckled trout fishing in the Pungo River and Rose Bay has been producing plenty of action lately (but most of the fish are 12-13”). Soft plastics and 17MR MirrOlures in 808 and electric chicken are responsible for most of the action.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that some striped bass are starting to show up in the Pungo River around the trestle and bridge at Washington. River points with stump fields on them are also holding good numbers of fish. Anglers are hooking the stripers while trolling Rat-L-Traps around structure and casting soft plastic lures and live eels when they can mark the fish. The striper bite should remain decent for much of the winter.
There’s also been an excellent speckled trout bite around Swan Quarter (though most fish are under the 14” minimum size limit). Soft plastic baits and MirrOlures are producing most of the specks, and the falling water temperatures mean anglers should fish the plastics on light jigheads and fish them very slowly. The Gulp Swimming Mullet (in white or chartreuse) is one of the best cold water lures.
