Swansboro/Emerald Isle – December 2024
Morgan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are finding a mixed bag that includes sea mullet, black drum, red drum, a few speckled trout, and some late season pompano.
A ton of bluefish are also mixed throughout the surf zone.
Anglers back in the sounds are having success catching red drum, black drum, and speckled trout. All three of these species are scattered, though. The trout, in particular, are making their move into the backs of creeks.
Anglers that have found the opportunity to get offshore are catching blackfin tuna and some wahoo.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that black drum are staging up around hard structures such as docks and bridges, with cut shrimp on the bottom enticing strikes.
Schools of red drum are pushing out into the surf zone, and they can be targeted from either a boat or the shoreline. On calmer days with clear water, anglers can sight cast to them, and soft plastics or MirrOlures will usually get them to bite.
Speckled trout are shoving back up into the mainland creeks and rivers. As temperatures keep getting colder, fishing live mud minnows under corks will become a very effective method. If using artificials, focus on fishing suspending lures very slowly, as this tactic will typically yield some of the bigger trout.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding a better class of speckled trout (to 23”) and black drum. Most of the success is coming from fishing little holes and creeks and around oysters, especially in the White Oak River. Recently, live bait (like shrimp) fished under a cork continues to be the top producer for both species.
As the water temperatures continue to cool, the shrimp will get more scarce and it will make sense to switch over to mud minnows.
Red drum are schooling up and moving back into the marshes. Anglers can sight cast to these fish as they travel around the shallower bays and channels, but the most success will come from soaking Carolina-rigged baits at a distance and allowing the schools to come to the baits.
Capt. Rob Koraly, of Sandbar Safari Guide Service, with a 5 lb. gray trout that fell for a 4″ Gulp shrimp on a jig head. He was fishing behind Bear Island.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are having a lot of success using live shrimp to target speckled trout, red drum, and black drum. With the temperatures dropping, the speckled trout will predominantly stay in the creeks and in deeper water areas near the inlets.
The black drum are in similar areas, as well as hanging around deeper docks and bridges.
All of the live bait will eventually disappear, and then the best tactic will be to stay in the creeks and toss light-weight jig heads and soft plastics with a darker color pattern.
Some red drum are hanging deep in most of the creeks and are being hooked while targeting speckled trout. As the water gets super clear, the opportunity arises to sight cast to schools of redfish in the marshes. Light-weight jig heads should have success.
Anglers looking for something different can target the deepest structures they can find for both black drum and sheepshead. In the wintertime, dead shrimp on a Carolina rig can usually get some strikes.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that anglers are having success targeting black drum (to 5-8+ lbs.) and sheepshead around some of the deeper water structure. Live shrimp has been the most consistent bait for producing action on both species, and targeting the peak of either the high or low tide has been key.
A few red drum are being found while using this same bottom fishing tactic.
Anglers targeting the backwaters and creeks are seeing a more consistent bite on a healthy class of speckled trout (in the 2-3 lb. range).
Those getting off the beach are having a lot of success targeting large black sea bass and triggerfish. Most of the action is coming from shallower structure (out to 100’). Jigs will produce bites, but the bigger black sea bass are preferring cut baits. Some vermilion snapper will likely be in the same areas.
Charles Williams, of Durham, landed this 40 lb. wahoo trolling near the Big Rock using an Iland lure. He was fishing with Capt. Cody Garner of Reel Time Charters out of Atlantic Beach.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that off the beach, the king mackerel bite is as good as it gets, with blackfin tuna mixed in on just about every single trip. This action should stay through December and into January. Dead cigar minnows are working well, but try to pick up a few bluefish on the way out. The live bait seems to produce the bigger fish.
When offshore isn’t an option, the good news is that the speckled trout action has really turned on. With the lack of rainfall in the area, the trout have made a big push into the rivers and they’re feeding hard. Anglers have been doing best targeting little bays and points in the mainland creeks.
Moving further into winter, the trout move even further back, and hard baits fished very slowly will be the main tactic. When the warm weather snaps show up over winter, this opens the best opportunity to catch citation-sized trout on topwater plugs, especially on the last day or two of a warmer weather run.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching black drum, pufferfish, sea mullet, and some late season pompano (to 2+ lbs.). A bunch of bluefish are also mixed in the action.
Fishing around the pilings has produced scattered sheepshead.
