Added on Thursday, August 23, 2012  Gary Hurley

Swansboro August 23, 2012

Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are seeing an improved speckled trout bite in the marshes behind the area’s barrier islands. Most of the fish are falling for live shrimp drifted under float rigs, and the shrimp are also fooling some stout black drum.

Red drum are looking for meals in the marsh channels, and many of the fish have formed back up into small schools of 10-20. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and live and cut baits will all tempt bites from the reds.

Flounder are feeding around inshore structure like docks. Anglers are connecting with the flatfish on Carolina-rigged finger mullet.

The flounder bite also remains strong around the nearshore reefs and live bottoms, where heavy bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are a better option than the live baits.

Big spanish mackerel (some 5+ lbs.) are feeding around many of the same areas where anglers are flounder fishing, and they’ll attack live finger mullet or menhaden on scaled-down king mackerel gear.

The king bite is also improving nearshore, and anglers hooked several last week around pods of menhaden just off the beaches on both live menhaden and bluefish.

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some excellent action with large spanish mackerel at the nearshore reefs, live bottoms, and AR’s off Bogue Inlet. Live baits are far more effective than artificials on the big (many 4-5+ lbs.) spaniards, and small menhaden or finger mullet on scaled-down king mackerel rigs are the best bets.

Flounder are feeding on the bottom in the same areas, and a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a Gulp bait is tough for the flatfish to turn down.

Upper and over-slot red drum are feeding in the marshes inshore, where anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs, Gulps, or a variety of live baits.

Bottom fishing with cut baits around the inlet at night has been producing fast action with medium to large sharks and more over-slot reds.

Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are connecting with some pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and sand fleas from the surf and pier.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the shoreline and around Bogue Inlet, and anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons or casting and working metal lures like Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs on lighter tackle.

Some larger spaniards are working over bait balls that are moving within a few miles of the shoreline, and casting metal jigs or slow-trolling and drifting with live baits will tempt plenty of bites from the bigger fish.

King mackerel are starting to feed in many of the usual summertime spots and will take an interest in live baits or dead cigar minnows.

Anglers are still catching good numbers of flounder at the nearshore reefs, ledges, and live bottoms. Live baits will tempt them to bite, but 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are an easier and more effective option.

Keeper black sea bass are holding at bottom structure just a bit further offshore, and jigs or bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits are difficult for them to resist.

Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting that the wahoo bite remains steady. Ballyhoo and high-speed lures are both producing results with the wahoo.

Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching some big spanish mackerel (5+ lbs.) on live baits fished on king rigs off the end of the pier.

Smaller spanish and plenty of bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.

Bottom fishermen are connecting with some black drum, sea mullet, croaker, and pompano on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.

Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.