Added on Thursday, April 10, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro April 10, 2008

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that inshore fishing over the first part of March and April has been good, but anglers must be able to adapt to the changing weather conditions in order to succeed consistently.

The rains and warming weather have speckled trout moving from the rivers and feeder creeks (where they spent the winter) into the sounds, where they’ll soon be in a spring feeding pattern.

Anglers have had good luck with the trout around the mouths of the White Oak River, Queens Creek, and the creeks along Highway 24. Jigheads paired with soft plastics in natural colors such as sugar and spice, pearl, and smelt have been producing well on the trout, with slightly darker colors also getting bites on cloudy days.

Large red drum are patrolling the marshes behind Brown’s Island, Bear Island, and Emerald Isle. Some of the reds are still holding on the inlet shoals where they spent the winter, but most of the drum are moving into the marshes where anglers can target them with Redfish magic spinnerbaits, Gulp baits, or shallow suspending Mirrolures. As the water warms up a few more degrees, typically in late April or early May, the drum will take an interest in topwater plugs.

Some early flounder (most on the small side) are moving into the same creeks and rivers the trout are leaving, and they’ll respond well to a Gulp shrimp fished on a jighead heavy enough to keep it near the bottom. Live baits such as mud minnows will also produce, and they are top choices for fishing around the bridges, where some larger flounder should be staging later in the month.

There are still good numbers of flounder, trout, and drum feeding in brackish water areas off the Neuse and New Rivers.

Some Atlantic bonito and false albacore have been seen feeding at structure off of the Crystal Coast already, and they’ll begin feeding closer to shore in the hook of the Cape as the water warms up over the next few weeks.

Later in the month, the bonito should be feeding right off the beaches, and spanish and king mackerel shouldn’t be far behind them.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that the boats that have made it to the Gulf Stream recently have had some good days, landing a few yellowfin mixed in with good numbers of blackfin tuna. Some small king mackerel are also making an appearance in the blue water, and the wahoo fishing should get better over the next few weeks.

Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow deep diver plugs, particularly in banana peel and blue/silver colors, have been drawing strikes from the kings and other fish.

Bottom fishing has been good lately, and anglers are landing grouper and snapper around structure in 100+’ of water. The bite should move slightly closer to the beach as the weather warms up. Butterfly jigs offer anglers an alternative to bottom fishing with bait, and they are producing excellent results on the snapper and grouper.

Over the coming week, flounder fishing at bottom structure 10-15 miles offshore should turn on. Bouncing a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a white 4″ Gulp Shrimp off the bottom will draw strikes from the flounder and also get attention from sea bass feeding on the same structure.

 

Stan, of Captain Stanman Charters, reports that bottom fishing should be good right now at reefs, wrecks, and live bottoms 25-30 miles off Bogue Inlet. Grouper, snapper, and sea bass will be holding near structure, and they’ll fall for cut and whole cigar minnows, northern mackerel, and squid. Anglers can also cast net bait they see or mark on the sounder on the way offshore in 30-40′ of water. The live baits are prime grouper meals, and a heavily weighted 12′ ocean cast net will put some in the livewell.

Yellowfin tuna should be hungry and patrolling the Gulf Stream, along with other blue water predators. Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Hydro-Magnums are both excellent trolling plugs that will appeal to the tuna, wahoo, and other species.

 

Greg, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking up with a few drum around Brown’s Inlet and in the sounds. The sound is producing a few speckled trout as well.

Surf fishing has been slow due to the high winds and rainy weather, but those fishing from the beaches are landing a few whiting, skates, and dog sharks.

 

Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some fat whiting, with several weighed in approaching 2 lbs. Some northern puffers have been mixed in, and both are falling for bottom rigs and shrimp. Some small bluefish and plenty of dogfish and skates are also taking the baits.

The water is 58 degrees.