Swansboro/Emerald Isle – August 2022
Randy, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf fishing action has been good for anglers looking to do some bottom fishing. Good-sized sea mullet and croakers have not slowed down, even with the recent weather patterns.
Anglers casting jigs have been catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Inshore, there are good numbers of bluefish being found while fishing back in the ICW. On some days, anglers are finding double digits of fish in small time windows while casting spoons and Kastmaster-style jigs at schools.
Red drum are scattered just about everywhere from back in the marshes to out around docks in the ICW. Some speckled trout are being found in the area, too, though most of the trout action is way up in the creeks.
Reeves Felton, Brian Felton, and Gage Felton hooked this mahi on a Fathom Calico Jack trolling lure while 40 miles offshore of Bogue Inlet.
Benjamin, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that red drum remain in their summertime patterns where they are scattered throughout the inshore areas. Target areas of oyster rocks and creek points for the most success. In these warm water temperatures, it’s also a great tactic to look for bait pushed up into the shallow bays for signs of feeding action. Staying on the move and fishing lightly weighted soft plastics or popping cork setups can help anglers scout through an area.
Inshore bridges and hard structure are holding good numbers of sheepshead and black drum for anglers fishing shrimp or live crabs.
Flounder fishing has been exceptional around the ICW docks and deeper marsh channels.
Surf anglers have mostly been catching bottom fish, with a few spanish mackerel in the mix.
Not many anglers have gotten the chance to go offshore due to the rough weather, but some that made it off found scattered mahi and good bottom fishing action.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that large spanish mackerel have been biting very well off the beach out to the nearshore reefs. A lot of smaller fish are schooled up in the shallower 30-40’ range. Live bait has produced most of the larger fish, with Clarkspoons and casting Stingsilver jigs at surface-feeding schools also producing action.
Red drum have been feeding very well in deeper inshore waters just about anywhere from the inlets back up into mainland rivers. Target areas of good current with bottom-rigged finger mullet.
Black drum are in many of these same areas and eating fresh shrimp.
Anglers are finding some speckled trout scattered in the deeper marsh channels, especially while fishing early and during periods of rising tides. The best bait has been shrimp.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that the redfish bite has been good in the marshes. Rapala Skitter Walks, soft plastics, and Carolina-rigged finger mullet or menhaden have all been the best bets.
The flounder bite is as good as it gets, even though they need to be released. Still, this makes them no less fun to catch. Anglers are having a lot of success fishing 4” Gulp shrimp in white and glow/chartreuse colors. Lightly weighted 1/8-1/4 oz. jig heads have been just enough to hold baits down.
Sheepshead and black drum are staged up around bridges, ICW structures, and seawalls. Fiddler crabs, sea urchins, and live or fresh shrimp are the top producing baits.
Spanish and bluefish are also scattered around throughout the ICW. Metal spoons have been enticing strikes from these schools of fish.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action has been good, with most fish being schooled up rather than scattered. Topwater plugs being fished by anglers scouting areas have produced more of the single fish bites, while bottom fishing baits has helped stay on the schools.
Sheepshead and black drum are staged up around bridges in Swansboro and rocks up into the White Oak River. Fathom corks rigged with live shrimp are a great setup to get strikes from both species.
Up in the river, anglers are finding scattered speckled trout. If found while fishing live shrimp, anglers can switch over to jig heads rigged with swimbaits to stay on this summer trout bite.
Anglers headed off the beach are finding a good spanish mackerel bite while fishing both live baits and casting spoons at surface-feeding schools.
Katie Conoley caught this 32″ red drum on a live shrimp under a popping cork in the North River. She was fishing with Capt. Daniel Griffee of On Deck Fishing Charters.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore fishing for red drum has been good and consistent. The best of the action has been at sunrise, with anglers having the most success fishing topwater plugs and then switching to Carolina-rigged live finger mullet as the sun gets up higher.
Off the beach, some citation-class king mackerel are being caught from the beachfront out to 60’, though most concentrations of bites have been out further (in 70-80+’).
Mahi, as well as some catches of wahoo and sailfish, have been holding out in this same range, and the mahi have best been targeted by live baiting. This is also the time of year to find some bonus sailfish action over structure as close as 10 miles off the beach.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that good-sized spanish mackerel (to 4 lbs.) are being caught on both casting jigs and live bait. Bluefish are mixed in the action for anglers casting plugs at surface-feeding schools.
Anglers fishing off the end have landed some good-sized king mackerel (to 22+ lbs.) and even jack crevalle.
Bottom fishing has been good, with anglers finding a mixed bag of sea mullet, croakers, spot, and pompano.
