Swansboro August 25, 2011
David Barrett, of Jacksonville, NC, and Capt. Bobby Borquin, of Teezher Charters, with a 35 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo under a red/black Mylar skirt behind a planer while they were trolling near the 90' Drop.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the cooler weather has improved the area’s fishing over the past week. The nearshore spanish mackerel bite is back on, and anglers are catching excellent numbers of the larger spanish (3-6+ lbs.) while fishing small live baits on scaled-down king mackerel gear at the wrecks, live bottoms, and rocks within five miles of Bogue Inlet.
Plenty of smaller spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlet and along the beachfront, and anglers can tempt them to bite Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and trolling weights.
The flounder bite has been excellent at the same nearshore structure where anglers are finding the large spanish. Anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Deeper areas inshore, especially those close to the inlet, are producing plenty of flounder action as well. Live finger mullet or smaller bucktail/Gulp combinations will fool the flatties inshore.
Red drum are still scattered throughout the marshes and along the ICW, but anglers have been able to put together some steady action with them while covering ground and casting topwater plugs or live finger mullet.
Black drum and sheepshead have been feeding around oyster rocks on the area’s flats, but the coming rains will likely push them back into the deeper water around bridge and dock pilings. Live fiddler crabs or shrimp will tempt both crustacean-lovers to bite.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the flounder action remains solid at the nearshore structure like reefs, rocks, and the AR’s just off Bogue Inlet. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live finger mullet and 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
The flounder bite is also going strong inshore, with most of the fish coming from the docks and other structure in deeper water. Live baits or Gulps on bucktails and stand up jigheads will fool the flounder.
Red drum are feeding throughout the backwaters in the marshes and bays around Swansboro and Emerald Isle. Anglers can get them to bite live baits, Gulps, spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, and a variety of other artificials.
Surf anglers are catching a summertime mixed bag of bottomfish including pompano, sea mullet, spot, and croaker. Shrimp and bloodworms will tempt them to bite.
Offshore, anglers found some dolphin as close in as the 10 mile range last week, but the bite hasn’t been on fire.
The king mackerel action is still slow locally, but anglers did catch good numbers (with many 30-40 lbs.) while live baiting east of Cape Lookout Shoals last week.
Bottom fishermen are reporting some solid catches of black sea bass from the 10-30 mile range. Squid, cut baits, and small vertical jigs will attract attention from the bass.
Gulf Stream trollers found a solid wahoo bite last week around the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock, with some sailfish also in the mix. Both are falling for skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Melissa Grey with a spanish mackerel she hooked on a Clarkspoon while on her first ocean fishing trip. She was trolling off Shackleford Banks with Capt. Jerry Powell of RockNRoll Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that there was a hot wahoo bite along the break off Bogue Inlet last week. Skirted ballyhoo were producing most of the action, and the fish have been feeding on top and down deep.
Spanish mackerel fishing has slowed down a bit, but anglers are still hooking decent numbers of larger fish (3+ lbs.) while slow-trolling small live baits on scaled-down king mackerel tackle at nearshore wrecks and rocks.
Plenty of flounder are feeding on the bottom in the same areas, and live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails will tempt them to bite.
Bottom fishing further offshore has been producing some excellent catches of black sea bass. Small vertical jigs, squid, and cut baits will get attention from the bass.
Doug, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other small metal lures from the pier.
Flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Some sea mullet are striking bottom rigs during the days, with bluefish, spot, and croaker joining them in the evening hours. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling the bottom feeders.
