Swansboro – August 31, 2017
James, of Reel Outdoors, reports that red drum have provided plenty of action for anglers fishing inshore. Cut mullet and topwater plugs have been the baits of choice, and targeting marsh banks and oyster structure has worked best.
Those searching for flounder have had success casting live finger mullet on Carolina rigs around dock structure and creek mouths, and most flounder landed have been big enough for the cooler.
Speckled trout fishing has also started to pick up. Many anglers have landed limits of trout using MirrOlures and Zoom plastics near marsh points and ledges.
Out in the surf, red and black drum have been feeding well. Those casting cut baits and fresh shrimp have done best. Sea mullet are also chewing. They’re preferring fresh shrimp and sand fleas.
Just off the beach, spanish are schooled up near bait pods. Those trolling Clarkspoons have landed good numbers of fish. Kings have been holding a bit further off the beach, and live bait has worked best for them.
In the 50 mile range, the wahoo action has started to pick up. Anglers have been hooking in to a few fish each trip.
Clara Evans, of Greenville, NC, with a 23” spanish mackerel caught near Bogue Inlet while trolling a Clarkspoon.
Matt, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that speckled trout in the 15-20” range have been feeding along marsh banks and oyster beds. Targeting areas with visible rips and current lines has produced the most fish, and Zoom plastics or live shrimp under a float rig have been the ticket to landing limits of fish.
Those looking for redfish in the surf have landed plenty on fresh cut mullet.
Inshore, soft plastics or cut mullet on Carolina rigs have tempted plenty of mid-slot reds to bite. Targeting marsh lines and points has produced best. Black drum have been mixed in some of the same areas with the reds, and live shrimp on a Carolina rig has been the preferred offering.
Targeting areas near docks in the waterway, the flounder bite has remained steady. Dropping bucktails tipped with Gulp plastics and live finger mullet and menhaden has worked best. A few sheepshead have also been holding near the docks. Anglers dropping live fiddler crabs have landed a few fish.
Just off the beach, the spanish have schooled up and are feeding well near bait pods. Casting jigs (as well as trolling Clarkspoons) is producing plenty of action. Nearshore reefs and wrecks have been holding keeper flounder. Dropping bucktails tipped with Gulp plastics has been the hot combo for the flatfish.
King mackerel can be found in the 5-10 mile range. Fishing live pogies has been the ticket to getting the kings to bite.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that redfish have started to school up around the channels near the inlets. They’ve also been feeding well around waterway edges and dock structure. Finger mullet has been the bait of choice for the reds.
Those looking for sheepshead and black drum have had luck targeting piling structures and oyster bars. Fresh and live shrimp have been the key to landing good numbers of both species.
Speckled trout have started to show up in the area rivers and marshes. Soft plastic jerk shads and shrimp have been the lures of choice.
Nearshore, spanish have been schooled up well and busting on top of the water. Those casting Stingsilvers through the busting schools have landed quality fish.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that the redfish have been scattered in the marshes and rivers in the area, but they are now starting to school up. Live mullet and peanut pogies have worked best, but anglers have also had luck throwing Gulp plastics and Rapala Skitterwalks.
Speckled trout have been feeding in the area, but the bite has not been great. Most of the fish landed have come on live shrimp under popping corks and on MirrOlure MR-17s.
Just off the beach, anglers have found a good bite for spanish and small kings on live bait. The majority of the spanish and kings have been holding around nearshore structure.
Joshua Lippy, of Swansboro, NC, with an upper-slot red drum that went for a finger mullet on a Carolina rig in the White Oak River.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that anglers looking for big spanish nearshore have been rewarded with some citation catches. Small kings have been mixed in, as well as a few barracudas.
In the 20-40 fathom range, the wahoo bite has been consistent. Using wire has been a must, and the best colors have been purple/black and blue/white.
Sailfish and blackfin tuna have also been in the mix when heading offshore.
Traci, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have landed good numbers of red and black drum from the pier. Fresh cut mullet and fresh shrimp have been the best baits. A few keeper flounder have also been landed on cut bait.
Those targeting spanish and bluefish have had success in the early morning hours. Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers have produced best.
The water temperature is 83 degrees.
