Swansboro/Emerald Isle – July 2024
Morgan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are seeing a variety of fish, including sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, black drum, and a few red drum. All of these fish are being caught with any mix of cut mullet, shrimp, or Fish Bites bait strips
Anglers casting metal jigs are hooking into bluefish and the occasional spanish mackerel, usually during higher or incoming tides.
Soundside anglers have been catching scattered red drum and a ton of flounder while fishing both soft plastics or Carolina-rigged live baits.
Off the beach, anglers are landing plenty of spanish mackerel and scattered king mackerel.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum have been biting steady in the backwaters around oyster points and creek mouths. Topwater plugs have been getting a lot of strikes, with menhaden being the best bait for anglers fishing bottom-rigged natural bait options.
Black drum are back in the creeks, and they’re found best in deeper holes on low tide and around bridges and ICW docks. Anglers are catching them almost exclusively on shrimp.
Speckled trout are scattered in channels closer to the inlet, and they’re eating shrimp on jig heads or larger soft plastics.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel are plentiful. Trolling spoons provides plenty of success, and anglers looking for the larger fish are seeing some show up on the nearshore reefs while fishing live menhaden.
John Riggle, of New Bern, hooked this 13 lb. gaffer dolphin near AR-315 using a free swimming live shad. He was fishing with Capt. Daniel Griffee of On Deck Charters.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that bait (shrimp, menhaden, and mullet) is everywhere now.
The arrival of all this bait has red drum activity picking up, though in typical summer fashion the fish are scattered all over the place. Fish an area for 15 minutes, and if you’re not getting action from the target species, it’s time to move.
Black drum fishing has been really good. Lightly weighted Carolina rigs with shrimp are all it takes to get in on the action. Target the hard structures such as docks and pilings (or any structure with some current).
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been on some speckled trout action while targeting areas up in the creeks and rivers. The trout are also in deeper channels near the inlet. For both areas, fishing on higher tides or with moving current has helped. Live shrimp is the top producing bait by far, though you do have to battle with the pinfish that are all over the place.
Red drum are scattered throughout the inshore waters. Smaller live menhaden (2-3”) have been best.
A bunch of smaller, scattered bluefish are around, and they’re hitting just about any natural bait.
On the higher tides, some spanish mackerel will move inshore and be around the inlets and in deeper spots of the ICW.
Keeper black drum are staged up around oyster rocks in the river. Carolina rigs with shrimp are the best way to target them.
Sheepshead action is hit or miss depending on what piece of hard structure is targeted.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that spanish mackerel action has been good anywhere from Bogue Inlet to Beaufort Inlet. The better numbers of fish have been right on the beach and not out over the local AR’s.
Trolling Clarkspoons has been best for this 2 lb. class of fish that make up the majority of the catches. It’s been tough to find bigger fish (3-4+ lbs.).
King mackerel (in the 10-15 lb. class) are being caught on live baits over the nearshore reefs.
Deeper bottoms (in 60-65’+) are holding a bunch of amberjacks. Both live baits and topwater plugs are great ways to get in on the action.
Offshore runs have been seeing hit or miss mahi action.
Wahoo fishing has been slow, with mostly smaller (15 lb. class) fish being scattered in the trolling action.
Plenty of triggerfish and vermilion snapper (to 5 lbs.) are being caught while bottom fishing in the 100’+ range.
Travis Weeks, of Morehead City, caught this 30.1 lb. mahi fishing offshore of Morehead using a Moyes J-Boy lure. He was fishing in the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament with Capt. Jason Temple and Mate Nick Bolton of Ali-Kat Charters and won first place with this fish.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the bait balls that were just off the beach over the last month have now moved inshore. With that migration, the king mackerel and cobia have pushed out onto rocks and structure in the 5-10+ mile range.
Moving into July, the mahi should start showing up at many of these same nearshore areas. Anglers headed off the beach would do best by slow trolling live bait, and then occasionally mixing in a dead cigar minnow or small ballyhoo.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that there’s some great spanish mackerel action by trolling spoons just off the beach.
Bottom fishing remains a strong choice, with a variety of species out over reefs in the 80’+ range.
Mahi fishing has been picking up in the Stream. These fish will start being caught closer to shore as they scatter in the hot offshore waters.
Chris, of Spooled Rotten Charters, reports that bottom fishing has been excellent, with plenty of vermilion snapper around.
The deeper bottom areas have produced large triggerfish, and it’s a great idea to keep a free lined bait out, as this provides the opportunity to be hit by a king mackerel or the occasional nearshore dolphin.
A ton of amberjack are around.
Gag grouper season may be closed, but scamp grouper are still actively feeding for anglers bottom fishing with cut baits.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts have produced gray trout, bluefish, and some pompano.
Anglers casting plugs have been catching spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish.
