Swansboro/Emerald Isle – June 2024
Morgan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers have been doing well targeting spanish mackerel and bluefish that have moved within casting range, and bottom fishing efforts from the shore has produced black drum, sea mullet, and some pompano.
Inshore, the sheepshead bite has been good, with fish staged up around the bridges and older dock pilings.
Red drum and speckled trout fishing has been steady, though the action is scattered as they break up into small groups of fish.
Nearshore anglers are catching a bunch of spanish mackerel while trolling.
Nice-sized cobia (40-60 lbs.) have started to show up in the area over the nearshore reefs and around bait balls.
The reefs are holding some black sea bass for anglers looking to bottom fish.
Offshore anglers are mostly catching wahoo, with the mahi action just starting.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that large numbers of spanish mackerel are along the beaches and out over nearshore reefs. They are striking jigs and spoons, with the larger spanish being caught on live baits.
Gray trout have mostly moved back out into the ocean after spending the cooler months inshore. Anglers are having success jigging them up at the nearshore ARs.
Inshore anglers are seeing a bunch of menhaden moving around, and this bait should help kick off the red drum bite. Topwater plugs are a great bait for scouting through inshore areas to pick away at these smaller groups of fish.
Bluefish are everywhere, both inside and out in the ocean.
John Keel, of Emerald Isle, hooked this cobia while sight fishing nearshore out of Bogue Inlet using a live menhaden. He was fishing with Capt. Jordan Boucher of Southern Tides Fishing Charters.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that slot-sized red drum are scattered all over the marshes through Swansboro. These fish are already broken up in groups of 2-3 as they would be in mid-summer. The best tactic is Carolina-rigged cut baits cast up against banks.
Speckled trout are hanging out around rocks back in the White Oak River. Any sort of chartreuse colored artificial baits have been the ticket.
A bunch of spanish mackerel are off the beach.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are starting to have a lot of success finding speckled trout in channels and on banks near the inlets.
Red drum have been moving into the ICW and are staging up around docks and other structures in shallow water.
Some good-sized flounder have been a by-catch.
Sheepshead and black drum are moving in around the deepwater bridges and pilings. Anglers are having success with shrimp and fiddler crabs (as these baits become more available).
Gray trout numbers inside are starting to dwindle, but the ones being caught are quality fish (2-3 lbs.).
Spanish mackerel have made a great target both just inside and out off the beaches. Casting jigs has been the top producing tactic.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that the offshore action has been picking up, with mahi out in the 250-280’ range with 78-degree water.
This same area is also producing a 20-30 lb. class of wahoo.
Nearshore structures such as AR-330 and the 14 Buoy are starting to hold amberjacks, and trolling live bait over these areas is producing smaller king mackerel.
Gray trout fishing has been awesome. Some big fish (26-28”) are hitting live bait around the high relief structures. A nice tip has been to focus efforts on the incoming and high tides.
Spanish mackerel are showing up in good numbers through the 20-40’ range. Sizes have been mixed, with Clarkspoons producing strikes from all.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore anglers have continued to find Atlantic bonito, though this bite has been moving its way out.
Luckily, the bonito action is being replaced by the arrival of king mackerel and cobia. This time of year, it’s important to have that cobia rod ready as they tend to show up unexpected, even following up a fish you are fighting right to the boat.
Amberjacks are moving onto wrecks in the 10-mile range. They are a blast to target with big popper plugs matched on heavy duty 5000-sized reels with 60 lb. braid.
Mahi will also start moving in close over the next month or so, at times as close as the live bottom and rocks in the 10-mile range.
Offshore, the mahi have arrived alongside the occasional wahoo.
Nevin Schrimanker (left), of Raleigh, caught this 43 lb. cobia near Bogue Inlet using a bucktail. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly (right) of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that cobia are around for anglers looking to do some sight casting. Bucktails rigged with curly tail grubs are the favorite artificial, and if the fish are finicky, a live bait will typically do the trick.
Some big mahi are starting to show up offshore around weed lines. Anglers are having success pulling both live bait and skirted ballyhoo. Pink is always a favorite color.
Nearshore trips are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel as they start to show up. The Atlantic bonito are still mixed in, though this bite should be wrapping up any day.
Chris, of Spooled Rotten Charters, reports that the offshore bottom fishing action has been hot out in the 120-220’ range. Anglers are catching great numbers of triggerfish, vermilion snapper, gag grouper, scamp grouper, and American red snapper.
This is the time of year to always keep a pitch bait ready when heading offshore. Gaffer-sized mahi are around this range and can pop up at any time. These baits also can be kept out on a flat line to entice strikes from big king mackerel and amberjacks.
Shallower bottoms (100’) are holding gag grouper, grunts, and vermilion snapper.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are sight casting Gotcha plugs to schools of good-sized spanish mackerel (to 2+ lbs.).
Plenty of bluefish are around, and they are hitting the same casting plugs.
Bottom fishing efforts have produced sheepshead, pompano, sea mullet, and the occasional puppy drum.
