Swansboro/Emerald Isle – December 2023
Mickey, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers fishing in the sounds and up the mainland rivers are catching nice-sized speckled trout and red drum. Some black drum are in these same inshore areas, and they’re staged up around the hard structures such as docks, bridges, and oyster beds.
Surf and pier fishing has produced a wide variety of species, including sea mullet, blow toads, speckled trout, Atlantic bonito, and bluefish. A few bluefin tuna have been spotted out around the shoals. Running out to the Gulf Stream has produced wahoo, the occasional late season mahi, and various bottom fish.
Moving into the coldest months, sound-side efforts will continue to produce red drum, black drum, and speckled trout, with blow toads also pushing in. Surf fishing will entice strikes from some dogfish sharks and the possibility of red drum, black drum, and blow toads.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers taking advantage of the lighter boat traffic over the next couple months will be targeting speckled trout, red drum, and black drum way back in the brackish rivers and creeks.
Fishing slow will be key. Slowly rolling smaller paddle tail soft plastics, slowly fished MirrOlures, and drifting live mud minnows under slip corks will be the top producing tactics for the trout and red drum. Black drum will feed on cut shrimp fished on the bottom near structure or deep holes. With all three species, know that a little moving tide will be better than slack.
Jude Roberts, from Maryland, with a trout caught on a Paul Brown lure. He was fishing with Capt. Tyler Hudgins of Drumroll Charters out of Swansboro.
Another winter fishery is chasing the larger schools of red drum back in the marshes. This is almost strictly a sight casting bite, with anglers able to see into the gin-clear waters best around mid-day. When spotting a school, anglers should cast smaller, weedless-rigged soft plastics or cut bait. Black drum and sheepshead will remain staged up around hard structures nearshore. Fishing fresh shrimp on a heavy bottom sweeper jig is great for targeting these fish.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been good and the action remains through January. Recent trips have found that live bait is best for enticing strikes. When live bait is not available, you can have success with MirrOlure MR-17s or Rapala X-Raps. Target the deep-water creeks and slow down the retrieves.
Red drum are another great wintertime target species. These fish are starting to gather in large schools and will be pushing around in the marshes and creeks looking for food. Once into mid-winter, the red drum tend to make a better target as they won’t act as lethargic as trout.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that early winter speckled trout fishing is some of the best action the area sees all year. Anglers will have success using hard baits such as MirrOlures, Rapalas, and Yo-Zuris.
The trout are moving into the creeks during this stretch, and anglers need to be patient and stealthy in their approach as the water is clear and the schools can be a little spooky. Watch the weather in these coming months. A bunch of rain will push the fish more towards creek mouths, and then dry spells push them further back in the creeks. Stretches of warm water can also fire up the bite, at times enticing these trout to hit topwater plugs.
Red drum are moving into their winter patterns where they gather in large schools in the gin-clear waters of the marsh. Dead-sticking a Gulp bait is one of the best ways to get a strike, with a little tippet of shrimp also helping during the coldest spells.
Rebecca Whaley, of Newport, NC, caught this speckled trout in the Newport River using a 4″ Gulp shrimp. She was fishing with Capt. Roger Whaley of Reel Devotion Fishing Charters.
These redfish will typically hold strict to a certain pattern, returning to the same areas on the same tides. Similar to the trout fishery, this can lead to schools being easily spooked and heavily pressured, so be patient and stealthy in your fishing efforts.
Tyler, of Drumroll Charters, reports that the speckled trout action has been ramping up, with anglers having success with using live baits and soft plastics on jig heads or under a popping cork. These fish haven’t quite moved all the way back into their wintering holes just yet, but as water temperatures hit the 50s, start looking in the backs of mainland creeks and areas off the White Oak River.
The false albacore fishing off the beach is ending as the water temperatures continue to fall, but the good news is that some of the bigger bait is showing up which will bring in the bigger bluefish and eventually bluefin tuna.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that nearshore anglers have seen some good action sight casting to schools of false albacore off the beaches. These fish have been easily found on the calmer days while chasing birds or watching for surface-feeding frenzies.
The deeper nearshore bottom fishing has been good, with catches of triggerfish, black sea bass, and grouper (releases). Bottom fishing remains a great option for anglers looking to get in the boat over the winter. The bigger black sea bass will be moving in shallower, and being aggressive feeders, they provide great action.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some black drum and scattered sea mullet. Before closing for the season, a mix of blow toads, croakers, and speckled trout were also being landed.
