Swansboro August 20, 2009
Larry Fraser, of High Point, NC, with a 25 lb. cobia that fell for a live pogy at 45 Minute Rock while he was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters out of Swansboro.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the hot weather has the large spanish mackerel bite nearshore a little slower than it has been, but anglers still have the potential to hook the big spaniards (3-6+ lbs.) if they’re willing to put in a little extra effort. Fishing very early in the mornings (the bite is generally dead by 8:00) is the way to go, and rigs tied with lighter wire and smaller treble hooks than usual will tempt more bites from the fish. Small mullet are the best baits for the finicky spanish, and live chumming will often draw them to the surface when they don’t seem to want to come up for the hooked baits.
The heat also has the king mackerel bite slowed down inside of 10 miles, but anglers can maximize their chances of a king hookup by fishing with sabiki baits like Boston mackerel, speedos, sardines, and cigar minnows instead of pogies.
Some cobia are around the nearshore structure still. They seem to prefer pogies to the sabiki baits, so a spread featuring both will give anglers chances at kings and cobia.
Barracuda and amberjacks are holding on the buoy chains and at the higher relief wrecks within 10 miles of the beaches, and they’ll take an interest in most any live bait.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore structure has been excellent lately, and most anglers are catching the fish on bucktails tipped with Gulps. The structure within 2 miles of the beaches had been producing big numbers of fish, but most are smaller. Better quality flatties (but less numbers) are coming from the 4-5 mile areas.
With the big numbers of fish so close to the beaches, anglers can expect to see some solid fishing in the inlet and at nearby structure over the coming weeks as the fish move inshore.
The red drum bite’s been steady inshore lately, and the fish have been biting topwater plugs all day on some days. Gulp baits and live mullet or shrimp are fooling the fish when they won’t hit on top.
The edges of the marshes and heads of the creeks and rivers have been producing most of the reds lately, and any area with bait and water 2-3 degrees cooler than the surrounding temperatures is a good place to look for the fish.
Heather Kellum, of Raleigh, hooked this 18 lb. gag grouper at a live bottom in 70' of water off Bogue Inlet. The gag fell for a live pogy while she was fishing with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Charters.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the nearshore flounder bite is incredible right now. The live bottoms and artificial reefs within 5 miles of the beaches have been producing action with the best numbers of flounder (up to 5 lbs.) that anglers have seen in years. Most are falling for 1-2 oz. bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp baits.
Spanish and king mackerel are still feeding nearshore, but with the odd weather and winds lately the fishing isn’t as good as it has been over the past month. Anglers scaling down their tackle to #6 treble hooks and short (6”) wire leaders will improve their odds of hooking up with the mackerels. Smaller (4-5”) mullet and pogies are the best baits. Live bottom areas like Tom Smith Rock, the Keypost, Station Rock, and Bear Rock are better places to search for the mackerel than at the AR’s.
Amberjacks and barracuda are also schooled up on the AR’s and live bottoms, and a few cobia and dolphin are around as well.
Inshore, anglers are finding red drum along the ICW and at the inlet connecting channels during low tides. The fish are moving into the flooded marshes, and they’re feeding more actively during the higher tides.
Flounder are feeding along the channel walls near the inlet and at boat docks on the ICW. Falling tides should offer clearer water and better fishing.
Speckled trout have been showing up around points and eddies in the inlet connecting channels and oyster rocks with some strong tidal flow. Both artificials and live shrimp have been fooling specks lately, and anglers stand a good chance of hooking both reds and specks on topwater plugs in the early mornings.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that there’s been an excellent gag grouper bite at structure in around 70’ of water off Bogue Inlet lately. Live pogies are tempting the gags to bite.
King mackerel are feeding everywhere from the sea buoy to the 10 Mile areas (with some well into the 20 lb. range). Live pogies are also attracting attention from the kings.
Good numbers of cobia are in the same areas, and they’re also taking an interest in pogies.
Flounder are feeding around nearshore structure as well, and bucktails or Carolina-rigged finger mullet and peanut pogies will tempt them to bite.
Some large spanish mackerel are in the same areas, and they will fall for a mullet or pogy free-lined on the surface.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that teenage king mackerel are moving into the nearshore rocks and live bottoms of Onslow Bay, and some dolphin and sailfish shouldn’t be far behind them. Live pogies will fool all three fish into striking.
With the numerous tropical storms out in the Atlantic, anglers leaving the area’s shallow draft inlets need to be very careful over the next few weeks due to the large swells. The only good thing about the tropical weather is that the king mackerel bite tends to fire off after a storm.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the flounder bite on the nearshore reefs and rocks is excellent, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp and Trigger-X soft baits and Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Anglers are seeing a lot of large spanish mackerel in the surf, but they’ve been reluctant to hit lures anglers can cast to them. Boaters have been hooking the fish on small live baits.
Some large Hatteras bluefish are feeding at the point, and cut baits or metal lures will entice them to bite.
Surf bottom fishermen are hooking up with some whiting, pompano, spot, and croaker on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
Anglers are still catching plenty of red drum in the sound around oyster rocks and in the creeks. Topwater plugs like Skitterwalks and Top Dogs are fooling the reds.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is on in the Gulf Stream, and anglers are hooking the fish while trolling skirted ballyhoo around the Big Rock and inshore to the 90’ Drop.
Wanda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some pompano, whiting, and small spot on shrimp.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Live baiters hooked several king mackerel last week.
