Swansboro – Aug 16, 2018
Jerry, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there is still a bit of dirty water in the area, but fishing is improving. Anglers are steadily catching red drum in the sound, as well as decent numbers of flounder. Some trout have been landed, but not in any great numbers yet.
There is plenty of inshore bait around, which is a good sign.
In the surf, there are bluefish, pompano, black drum, and whiting all being caught, but shark action has dropped off considerably.
Dale, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that redfish are still chewing inshore, with a wide mix of sizes coming in on a variety of baits and lures. Topwaters have been producing big fish up to 33″ in the morning, while a lot of slot and a few under-slot fish are being landed throughout the day on Carolina-rigged mullet and Gulp baits.
Black drum ranging from throwbacks to 2-3 lbs. are being caught around area bridges and structure, where live shrimp is producing the most bites. Sheepshead are being found in the same areas, with fiddler crabs attracting most of the fish but sea urchins getting the biggest ones. It’s not impossible to pull a dozen or so 8-9 lb. fish over the rails in a single day when fishing with urchins.
Inshore flounder fishing has produced a lot of small fish and a few keepers, with spinner baits, Gulps, and live mullet all working for bait. Focusing on the water around docks and in creek mouths will offer the best chance of getting a fish.
The flounder bite on the nearshore reefs has been better, with a 60-70% keeper rate being the norm. Spro bucktails (2 oz.) paired with 4″ Gulp shrimp have been fooling these bigger, more aggressive flatties.
The king mackerel bite has slowed a bit, but the few fish that are out there have had size, with most of them weighing in the 20-30 lb. range. Live bait, Clarkspoons, Drone spoons, and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers are all getting the job done.
Offshore, reports have been slim, but wahoo and dolphin have been the main targets for anglers fishing the Gulf Stream and the waters just inside it.
Craig Smith with a red drum that he caught on a Gulp-tipped bucktail while fishing nearshore with Capt. Chris Kimrey, of Mount Maker Charters.
Jerry, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that the Swansboro bite has really picked back up after about a week of slow fishing caused by the vast amount of rain the week prior. Redfish are being caught all over the marsh areas from the White Oak River to Browns Inlet. Live mullet is the best bait overall, but Gulp shrimp or topwater lures will land fish as well.
The flounder bite has remained strong, with quite a few keepers being caught near docks and other structure.
Surf fishing for red drum has picked up quite a bit as well, with the majority of the best fish coming from Bear Island.
Nearshore king mackerel have been chewing hard on trolled menhaden.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that fishing has been fairly consistent, if not a little slower due to a lot of dirty water in the area. Both red and black drum have been swimming in the tidal marshes and flats, where live shrimp and mullet fished around points and drop-offs have been working. If the water is especially dirty, though, spinnerbaits and popping corks will make more noise and have a better chance at drawing attention. Heavy scents and cut baits may work better as well.
Jigs and drifted shrimp are catching speckled trout, while the flounder prefer menhaden in addition to shrimp. The flatties can be found along deep channel edges.
Spanish are still chewing inside the inlets, where Stingsilvers fished in rip currents will get bites.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that red drum fishing remains strong in the marsh areas inside the inlets. Live mullet and menhaden on Carolina rigs have been bringing in the most fish, but topwaters and soft plastics have been working as well.
Jigging for nearshore flounder has been good on the reefs and ledges from the beach out to about 10 miles. Spro bucktails with Gulp shrimp have been the go-to.
Spanish have been around the inlets, and they’re being caught by casting small metal lures to breaking fish.
Ethan Tolliver with a king mackerel that he caught while trolling live menhaden on the SE bottoms 12 miles outside of Bogue Inlet.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that kings and big spanish mackerel have been found from the beach out to about 60’ of water.
On the bottom, some nice keeper grouper and black sea bass are being landed on the nearshore rocks and reefs.
In the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite is starting to turn on, and some sails have been mixed in as well. Gaffer-sized mahi have also been filling the box on boats trolling ballyhoo.
Bottom anglers are finding grouper and triggers, and the first weekend that red snapper was open, every boat was limiting out. Roscoe jigs have proven effective at bringing them in.
Mallary, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that blues, 1-2 lb. flounder, spots, and mullet have all been chewing in the waters around the pier. Shrimp, squid, and Gotcha plugs have been the top three baits used, with the morning serving as the best time to fish.
A 27 lb. and 45 lb. king were also caught in the last few weeks.
