Swansboro August 31, 2006
Jeff, at FishN4Life Charters, reports that the nearshore waters (from the inlets out five miles) are holding very good numbers of summer flounder. Most boats are recording multiple catches. The waters have been very murky near the bottom, and this is causing a slower bite on live baits.
Along with flounder, there are some spanish in the 2 to 5 lb. range being caught on both small live baits (free-lined on the surface at idle speed) and on Yo-zuri Crystal Minnows (trolled at 4-5 mph). There are also plenty of clark spoon spanish (under 2 lbs.) around the inlets and the surf zone.
The bigger kings (10 to 30 lbs.) are mixing in with the smaller kings (under 10 lbs.) and big spanish along the nearshore live bottoms. Occasionally they’re also around the tide line at the inlet, as well as around Bogue Pier.
The backwaters around Swansboro are still producing a lot of redfish on the higher part of the tides in the shallow bays and creeks behind the Barrier Islands (beaches), as well as the bays off from Queens Creek, White Oak River, and Bogue Sound. During the high tide, these redfish will work the edge of the marsh and often tail inside the marsh looking for shrimp, crabs, and minnows. Try working spinner baits tipped with Berkley Gulp or topwater baits near the edges of the marsh.
There are plenty of summer and southern flounder mixed along docks and rocky structure in the ICW. Small schools of redfish will work baits around these structures too.
The redfish are beginning to school up around the inlet points and the shoals in the white water recently. It’s probably due to all the larger finger mullet showing around the inlets. The best time to work these fish will be the first half of the falling tide and the latter part of the incoming tide. Once it gets too shallow on these shoals, the reds usually retreat to the deeper shoals off the inlets.
There have been some lady fish working baits around Bear Inlet and West Channel this week, and they can usually be spotted as they slap the surface of the water busting on mullet minnows. A topwater bait worked across the area several times usually produces strikes, but be sure to fish a light drag as these fish can scream across the water at speeds of 15 to 20 mph.
The creeks and channels behind the Barrier Islands continue to produce some speckled trout up to 2 lbs., with most fish being 14-18 inches.
Stan, at Captain Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that weeds, weeds and more weeds are the main story in the area. There have been so many weeds that it’s difficult to keep a clean bait in the water.
Fish have been hard to find this week. Even with all the boats fishing the area waters, there was barely a king caught. Only a few small kings or spanish could be found.
Dolphin should be in the area, especially around the Honeymoon and Christmas areas, but they could not be found this week.
And there were no reports of action further offshore.
Stan, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that spots and whiting are biting both real and artificial bloodworms on the bottom.
Black drum (up to 2 lbs.) are hitting shrimp.
Live minnows fished on the bottom are producing a mixture of short and legal flounder.
Plug casters are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish; early in the morning or late in the day are the best times to try.
A 23.2 lb. king mackerel was caught on a live bait this week.
The water temperature is 85 degrees.
