Swansboro August 11, 2011
Kevin Anderson, of West Orange, NJ, with a citation 6 lb., 7 oz. spanish mackerel that bit a live menhaden while he was fishing along the Bogue Inlet tideline with Capt. Bobby Borquin of Teezher Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the heat still has the fish a little lethargic, and the best action has been coming early and late in the day again this week.
Anglers are picking up decent numbers of red drum while casting live shrimp and Gulp baits on jigheads and float rigs.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the oyster rocks closer to deep water in the marshes. Live shrimp will attract attention from both of the striped crustacean-lovers.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore live bottoms, ledges, and AR’s off Bogue Inlet remains quite productive. Anglers are hooking solid numbers of the flatfish (and most are keepers) while bouncing bucktail/Gulp combos off the bottom.
Large spanish mackerel (to 6+ lbs.) and a few kings are feeding in the same areas as the flounder. Small live menhaden on scaled-down king mackerel rigs and gear will tempt bites from the sharp-eyed and tackle-shy spaniards.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that the nearshore spanish mackerel bite is still solid off Bogue Inlet, but barracudas are at times making it tough to get a whole spaniard to the boat. Smaller fish are feeding just outside the inlet and will bite small metal jigs that anglers are casting. The larger spanish are holding over nearshore structure, where small live baits will prove more effective.
Flounder are feeding on the same structure as the spanish (with good action from 40-55’ last week). Live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will both tempt bites from the flatfish, but bucktails seem to be producing the larger fish.
Amberjacks are schooled up at higher-relief structure in 60’ and deeper, and live baits, topwater plugs, and vertical jigs will all tempt them to bite.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf casters are hooking a few red drum along with some sea mullet and spot while fishing shrimp and sand fleas in the breakers.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel are schooled up just outside the inlet. Anglers are hooking plenty while trolling small, shiny spoons on the surface.
Larger spanish mackerel and a few kings are feeding at the nearshore live bottoms and AR’s. Live baits are better choices for the bigger mackerel, and scaled down king rigs are the way to go as the fish are rather tackle-shy.
Capt. Andy Wolfe, of Fraud Giggin' Charters, with a pair of fat red grouper.
Inshore, the red drum bite is still on in the marshes, where anglers can hook the fish on spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and other artificials.
Flounder are feeding under docks and around other inshore structure. Gulp baits on stand up jigheads or bucktails will produce bites from the flatfish.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some flounder while fishing small live baits near the pier’s pilings.
A few large (to 2 lbs.) sea mullet and pompano have been coming over the rails for anglers baiting up with shrimp. Some spot, croaker, and small bluefish are also taking an interest in the shrimp.
More bluefish and a few spanish mackerel have been taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the planks.
