Swansboro August 5, 2010
Grayson Crittenden (age 9), from Swansboro, with her first red drum, which fell for a 4" Gulp shrimp behind Bear Island.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that ladyfish have made a strong appearance inshore in the area. They’re eating shrimp, finger mullet, and other baits in the ICW and other high-current areas, with the best action at night around lighted docks and bridges. Live shrimp are anglers’ best-bet baits to tempt bites from the ladies.
Red drum are a bit scattered, but anglers should be able to find reds willing to bite in the creeks and rivers and around oyster bars and points in the marshes. Live finger mullet and shrimp or topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other lures will fool the reds. Fishing early in the morning gives anglers the best odds of hooking up.
The best sheepshead action has been in the deeper holes under the area’s bridges at high tide lately. Fiddler crabs will fool the sheeps into biting and prove less tempting to pinfish and other undesirable species than live shrimp or other baits. Some sheepshead and black drum area also on the feed around oyster bars in the area’s marshes, where anglers can hook them on live shrimp beneath floats.
Flounder are still feeding in the channels and around inshore structure (like docks), and anglers can tempt them to bite live finger mullet or other baits on Carolina rigs.
The flounder bite has improved on the nearshore reefs, live bottoms, and other structure, and anglers are hooking good numbers (with some fish to nearly 5 lbs.) while bouncing bucktails tipped with Gulp baits off the bottom.
Large spanish mackerel are still feeding around the same nearshore structure, and anglers can tempt them to bite smaller live baits on scaled-down king mackerel rigs. The fish are feeding extremely early, so anglers should be on the scene soon after sunup to increase their chances of hooking up with one of the big spaniards.
Some king mackerel (many teen-20+ lb. fish) are feeding in the same areas, but they can be tough to land on the lighter gear that anglers are using for spanish.
Barracuda are looking for meals at nearshore structure and around the area’s buoys as well, and a larger live bait will attract their attention.
Cobia and amberjacks are feeding at high bottom relief areas within a few miles of the beaches, and anglers can hook both with live baits.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that offshore bottom fishing was excellent last week. Anglers found action with good numbers of gag and red grouper (some pushing and exceeding 20 lbs.) while dropping baits to structure in 100-110’ last week. Live pogies produced most of the action with the grouper.
Smaller bottom feeders like triggerfish and black sea bass are feeding in the same areas, and bottom rigs baited with squid will tempt them to bite.
Slightly closer to the beaches, amberjacks are schooled up on structure in the 10-15 mile range. Live baits, vertical jigs, topwater plugs, and more will attract attention from the jacks.
Anglers are hooking up with a few king mackerel and cobia at spots within 10 miles of the beaches. Live baits like pogies will attract attention from both.
Tanya Wilson with a 5.2 lb. speckled trout that fell for a live finger mullet in the backwaters near Swansboro.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there are still plenty of spanish mackerel feeding along the beaches, and anglers can hook up with the largest spaniards while drifting and slow-trolling or live-baiting from the pier with small pogies.
Some king mackerel are feeding along the beaches as well, and larger pogies or other live baits will tempt them to bite.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are finding action with pompano, whiting, and other summertime bottom dwellers. Shrimp will fool them.
Some flounder are feeding in the surf and inshore, and small live baits or Gulps will get their attention.
Inshore, anglers are still catching red drum in the marshes on topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and more.
Anglers are starting to see a few more speckled trout, likely because they’re moving out of the rivers and creeks due to the heat.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been picking up some whiting, croaker, pompano, and spadefish recently while baiting up with shrimp.
Some speckled trout are falling for live shrimp and other baits.
Plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
