Swansboro April 2006
Capt. Jeff Cronk, of FISHN4LIFE Charters, reports that the mild temps this winter have allowed for a super trout and red drum bite, and it has continued into this spring.
There are currently good numbers of speckled trout (11-15”) in the creeks and the sound side of Emerald Isle and Bear Island.
There are a few scattered specs and puppy drum near the inlets and better numbers in the surf. The bays, creeks, and rivers are holding some puppy drum (16-28”) in the shallows. The best bait will be soft plastic jerk baits (including the new ones by Berkley Gulp) fished weightless on a widebend style hook when fishing the shallow flats.
There are lots of gray trout and sea mullet being caught from the beaches out several miles, and many have moved into the internal waters between Swansboro and MHC. Try jigging 1/8 to 1/4 oz. spec rigs tipped with fresh peeled shrimp or Fishbites (add a 1/2 oz or better bell weight to the leader). Stingsilvers will work great in the deeper water around the inlets and off the beach.
The bluefish have begun arriving as well. There should be blues from 1/2 to 3 lbs. around the inlets and their main connecting channels. Any type of shallow diving lure (like Yo-zuri crystal minnows) trolled or cast on a typical light tackle spinning set up will produce fish in good numbers.
The southern flounder have awoken from their winter slumber. We’ve caught some from 12-17” around the flats and creeks on the internal waters using soft plastics and jigs. The southern flounder will be moving down river toward the ICW while the summer flounder will begin moving into the inlets slowly throughout this month. Then they will increase in numbers in May. The best bet for the flounder is still live minnows (mullet, mud minnows, tigerside, pinfish, etc) fished on a Carolina rig.
Along the nearshore live bottoms and artificial reefs there will be plenty of sea bass with some tautogs and a few early flounder mixed in. The albacore have been schooling hard about 3 to 5 miles offshore this past week and should be around the inlets and tidelines any day. As we move later into April, the bonito should make their showing along the live bottoms and artificial reefs nearshore.
Capt. Stanman, of Capt. Stanman Fishing Charters, reports that the wind gods are protecting the wahoos and yellowfins and haven’t been letting fishermen get to the bluewater to catch them.
Most of the 30’ and under center consoles haven’t made the trip yet to the stream. The big boats are getting out occasionally, but they are not necessarily killing the yellowfins. They’re catching a few, with most of the catch being taken up by wahoos in the 40 lb. class. The few yellowfins that are caught are in the 30 to 40 lb. class.
The Big Rock has been loaded up with kings in the 8 to 30 lb. range. If you can get away from the kings, the yellowfins will probably accommodate you.
He suggests you use a trace of AFW #6 to #7 wire at least 6 to 8 inches long. You might save a few lures from the kings eating them off.
The good news is the water temperature. It is now 60 degrees out of Bogue Inlet which means it’s about time for the spanish mackerel and bonito to show up at Divers Rock, AR 340, AR 342, and all of the inshore ledges and rocks.
Fish for both using Clark spoons. Use different sizes to “match the hatch.” Look for the birds when hunting bonito, or the bonito might surface in a school of spaniards.
Dale, at the Reel Outdoors, reports that sea mullet have been the main catch in the surf and off the pier. They are also starting to pick up a few blues (10-12”). One day they spotted Hatteras-sized blues off the pier, but they couldn’t get baits to them.
Red drum and speckled trout are in the sound and creek mouths. The reds are varied in size from 10” up to 3 lbs. Most are fishing with artificials (Gulp shrimp or spinner baits), but some have also been using cut mullet or spot successfully.
Rhonda, at Bogue Inlet Pier, has been seeing catches of sea mullet coming in all day long at the pier. They are mostly ranging from 1-1.5 pounds. Go with cut shrimp on the bottom.
