Swansboro August 9, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing was excellent over the week. The larger spanish (2-6 lbs.) are falling for live baits. Boats are catching limits of smaller fish (1-2 lbs.) while trolling Clarkspoons behind trolling weights and small planers. The fish are actively chasing bait and have been busting the surface all day long within 4 miles of Bogue Inlet.
King mackerel are feeding nearshore as well, and a number are larger fish (from 15-30 lbs.). Live pogies, cigar minnows, and greenies are drawing most of the king strikes. The action has been hot within 5 miles of the beach.
Boats are locating plenty of jig baits (cigars and greenies) around the B and C Buoys, and pogies are still plentiful in the ICW around the Swansboro area, so catching bait shouldn’t present a problem.
Flounder fishing is solid around the nearshore reefs and live bottoms, with most fish running 1-2 lbs. and some in the 3-4 lb. class. Live baits fished on Carolina rigs will produce bites from the flounder, and anglers can also hook up by bouncing 1-2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits off the bottom. The flounder bite should remain consistent until early November when the flatfish begin migrating offshore.
Bait is thick in the internal waters around Swansboro, and consequently fishing for red drum, black drum, bluefish, sheepshead, and flounder is excellent. There are also some speckled trout being caught.
Target the reds around inlet points, in the creeks behind Emerald Isle and Bear Island, along structure in the ICW, and around the oyster rocks in Bogue Sound, White Oak River, and Queens Creek. On the higher tides, some of the reds will begin feeding in the shallow bays around flooded marsh grass. Look for schools of finger mullet or shrimp showering on the surface to find the red drum.
Black drum will be feeding around area bridges and shallow oyster bars. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs make the best black drum baits, and can be fished beneath a popping cork, a slip float, or on a Carolina rig.
Flounder are scattered throughout the internal waters, and the largest fish are coming from the deep structure around the inlets and in the ICW. Live baits or Gulps should tempt the flounder to bite, and anglers weighed in fish up to 6 lbs. over the past week.
Stan of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that king mackerel are feeding well at the reefs, wrecks, and ledges on the East Side of Cape Lookout. Live baits such as pogies and cigar minnows are the top king producers, and many of the fish are in the high teens-20’s or larger.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that red drum fishing is still excellent back in the marshes. The drum are falling for a variety of baits and lures including topwaters, spinnerbaits, Gulp Jerk Shads, and live baits.
There are a few speckled trout feeding in the marshes and the feeder creeks. Live baits are producing good results with the trout, as are 3” Gulp Minnows in the Smelt color.
Anglers are landing plenty of flounder inshore, but many are undersized. Live and Gulp baits will both fool the flounder.
Surf fishermen are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish by casting gold 3/4 and 1 oz. Kastmasters and Stingsilvers.
Helen, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing spot and pompano. Shrimp are drawing strikes from both.
A few flounder are coming over the rails, and live baits seem to be the best choice for them.
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel.
Live baiters landed a 24 lb. king mackerel last week.
The water temperature is in the 80’s.
