Added on Thursday, August 13, 2009  Fish Post

Swansboro August 13, 2009

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the tides in the area have returned to normal levels, and anglers are again finding some excellent action with red drum behind the barrier islands, in the marshes, and along grass banks and channel edges in the ICW. Live shrimp fished beneath popping corks are the best baits for the reds right now, but anglers are also hooking up while casting topwater plugs and other artificials. The topwater bite has been best early and late in the days.

Some more reds along with black drum and sheepshead are feeding around oyster rocks and marsh cuts in the rivers and creeks. Live shrimp will fool all three species.

There have been plenty of shrimp around lately, and anglers can cast net them in the backs of creeks with soft mud bottoms.

The speckled trout bite has been excellent lately at spots around Morehead like Core Creek, and live shrimp are the best baits for the specks as well.

Ladyfish are feeding in the area’s channels at night, and anglers can hook them on Gulps or live finger mullet and shrimp.

Off the beaches, the flounder bite has been excellent lately, and both live finger mullet and Gulp-tipped bucktails are fooling the flatties. Nearshore structure like live bottoms and artificial reefs are holding most of the flounder. Some keeper grouper have moved onto the same structure, and they may surprise anglers fishing for flounder.

Some large king mackerel (20+ lbs.) and cobia are feeding in the same areas, so anglers keeping a large live bait out on the surface while flounder fishing may find action with either one.

The large spanish mackerel bite has slowed down a bit, but anglers are still catching decent numbers of smaller fish inshore on white jerkbaits and small, free-lined pogies.

 

Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that anglers found a good dolphin bite last week while live-baiting for king mackerel at structure 5-15 miles offshore. Some big kings have been feeding at the same spots, and anglers are hooking fish while slow-trolling and on kite baits while anchored up.

Boats are hooking good numbers of cobia at spots in 40’ and deeper lately. Live pogies are tough for the cobia to resist.

The gag grouper bite has also been on at structure in 60-70’ of water, and with the new laws, it hasn’t been too hard to catch a limit (although there are still plenty of undersized fish and sharks to weed through).

The nearshore flounder bite has been on at the AR’s, live bottoms, and other structure just off the beaches. Anglers are hooking the flatties on live baits and bucktails tipped with Gulps.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that the nearshore bite has been slow in the area lately. A few king mackerel have been feeding in the usual spots, but it’s been a bit slower than normal for this time of year. The dolphin, wahoo, and sailfish have also yet to make a solid appearance.

There’s been some decent bottom fishing around the Rock South area, with anglers hooking up with some grouper, flounder, and sea bass.

 

Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there’s still a good flounder bite inshore, but many of the fish are on the small side.

When anglers can get out, flounder fishing at the nearshore reefs has been solid (with much better numbers of keepers). Live baits on Carolina rigs, and Trigger-X and Gulp baits are all fooling the flounder.

There’s still a good red drum bite in the marshes, with most of the fish falling for topwater plugs like MirrOlure Top Dogs and Rapala Skitterwalks.

 

Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that plug casters caught decent numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel last week on Gotchas.

Anglers decked a few sheepshead over the week.

Bottom fishermen have been hooking decent numbers of keeper flounder on small live baits and some whiting on shrimp.