Swansboro August 21, 2008
Wade Wickowski with a 4 lb. 14 oz. flounder he hooked on a Carolina-rigged spot near Bogue Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters out of Swansboro.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with large spanish mackerel (some to 5 lbs.) and kings (5-20 lbs.) while fishing peanut pogies and finger mullet on light wire leaders and small treble hooks around nearshore structure.
Flounder are also feeding on the nearshore reefs (and are ranging from just legal up to 3 lbs.). Finger mullet and pogies fished on Carolina rigs will tempt bite from the flatfish.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been picking up in the barrier island marshes with the slightly cooler weather over the past week. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits and live shrimp will tempt bites from the reds and on flooding tides, weedless gold spoons cast into the grass should fool the fish.
The black drum and sheepshead bite is slowing down on the flats, but anglers are still hooking some big sheeps around the bridge pilings in the area.
The flounder bite remains steady around the docks in the ICW (with some up to 4 lbs. lately). Smaller fish are feeding in the inlets.
Spanish mackerel have also been feeding well inside the inlets, and trolling around the tide rips in the ICW will attract their attention.
Night fishing has been spectacular in the ICW lately. Drifting live shrimp weightless on circle hooks is producing hookups with ladyfish (running 2-4 lbs.) and bluefish (2-3 lbs.). the fish will also fall for topwater plugs, but anglers will land a few less fish.
Logan Hislop, from VA, with a 31" red drum he caught while fishing with Capt. Jeff Cronk of FishN4Life Charters out of Swansboro.
Robert, of Hall’em In Charters, reports that red drum are biting well in the marshes behind the barrier islands, with many schools of 25-100 fish. Plenty more fish are scattered through the marshes. They’ll be feeding in the shallow bays and grass on the flooding tides, and most of the fish are running 18-30″. Gulps, spinnerbaits, and MirrOlure Top Dogs are producing the most action, but anglers can also hook the reds on live finger mullet, peanut pogies, and shrimp under rattling corks or on Carolina rigs.
Good numbers of keeper flounder are feeding around structure in the ICW and in the creeks and rivers off the waterway. Some citation-class fish are coming from the deeper channels around Bogue and Brown’s Inlets. Finger mullet and peanut pogies fished on Carolina rigs are top flounder baits.
Anglers are also landing some nice speckled trout (most 1-3 lbs.) around ICW structure and oyster rocks in the creeks and rivers. Live finger mullet, small spot, and shrimp are excellent baits for the summertime specks.
Big spanish mackerel are feeding on the nearshore artificial reefs and live bottoms. Slow trolling small pogies and finger mullet on scaled-down king mackerel rigs will fool the big spaniards.
Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that some big wahoo have been caught relatively close to Bogue Inlet, with a 65 lb. fish landed near the Charlie Buoy last week.
There’s been plenty of jig bait around the C and D Buoys, so anglers should be able to fill the well with sabiki rigs.
Cobia are also holding at the buoys, and several big cobes were landed on live greenies last week.
Some good sized dolphin (around 10 lbs.) have been feeding around the Hutton and the Rocks South.
Anglers found some good king mackerel action close to the beaches. Big spanish are mixed in with the kings around the Keypost, and peanut pogies and small finger mullet are producing action with both mackerel.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching a lot of large spanish mackerel up and down the beach, mostly while fishing live pogies and finger mullet.
The king bite has been good within 12 miles of the beaches lately, and larger pogies are attracting attention from the kings.
Surf anglers are also getting in on the bluefish and spanish mackerel bite, mostly while casting Stingsilvers and gold Kastmaster spoons.
Big sharks (4-7′) are feeding right in the surf, and large cut baits will get their attention.
Inshore anglers are still catching some red drum in the marshes, with topwater plugs getting plenty of attention.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.
A few whiting are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
The water is 78 degrees.
