Swansboro/Emerald Isle – June 2022
Randy, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are starting to see better numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish moving within distance of those rigged with casting spoons.
These schools of smaller blues have even pushed back into the inlets and are feeding in deeper areas around Cedar Point.
Bottom fishing on the beaches is picking up. Smaller, natural baits and artificial bait strips fished on bottom rigs are producing sea mullet, croakers, and some pompano.
Rachel Farlow (right), of Swansboro, hooked this 35 lb. yellowfin tuna on a blue/white Ilander lure with a Baitmaster ballyhoo 65 miles out of Bogue Inlet. She was fishing with Capt. Crockett Henderson of Liquid Fire Sportfishing.
Benjamin, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that schools of the bigger spanish mackerel have started to show up off the beaches. Both Clarkspoons and slow-trolled live baits have produced strikes.
Some good-sized king mackerel (to 20 lbs.) have been landed from the piers, which is a sign that anglers trolling off the beach will also be hooking into scattered kings.
Cobia are being seen around the Morehead City area, and anglers running off the beach should be rigged with some live menhaden or a bucktail jig in the chance of running across some fish over a wreck or around bait.
Schools of false albacore are being caught by anglers casting glass minnow jigs at surface-feeding schools.
Surf anglers have started catching some pompano as they move onto the local beaches.
A few chopper-sized bluefish have been caught from the surf. They’re mixed in with all the smaller blues.
Inshore anglers are finding red drum scattered just about everywhere as they settle into warm weather patterns. These smaller groups, sometimes even solo reds, are hitting both spoons and soft plastics in the marshes and out along the ICW.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there are lots of red drum moving around in smaller pods (and even singles) in the shallow marshes and on the mud flats. Live or cut mullet have worked well, as does Gulp shrimp. The reds have been a little shy on topwaters, but a blow-up can be found.
Some sheepshead are on inshore pilings and similar hard structures. Crabs have been the hot ticket recently, with “bait stealer” species being very aggressive towards shrimp.
There are nice-sized flounder all over the shallows near creek mouths and in the rivers. Anglers fishing soft plastics while targeting other species are having a tough time keeping these flatfish off their baits.
Nearshore anglers are finding spanish mackerel moving through the inlets and off the beach. Trolling spoons or casting Stingsilvers at surface-feeding schools will produce fish.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that red drum have remained schooled up and are slowly breaking up and singling out as they move throughout the area. A variety of tactics are having success, from topwater fishing with Rapala Skitterwalks, throwing 4” Gulp shrimp on lightweight (1/8 oz.) jig heads, or soaking Carolina-rigged mullet, menhaden, or blue crab.
Sheepshead are showing up around the bridges. Most strikes are coming from anglers fishing live fiddler crabs, live shrimp, or sand fleas.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are in the inlets and waterways. Casting 1/2 to 3/4 oz. Stingsilvers or BWC Thingamajigs will work great around feeding schools.
Nearshore anglers are also finding spanish mackerel and false albacore are around in good numbers. The same tactic of casting metal jigs at the surface-feeding frenzies has produced strikes.
King mackerel and cobia are starting to move onto the beaches in better numbers, too.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum schools are getting more active, breaking up, and spreading out across the inshore areas. Anglers have found success while throwing topwater plugs early.
Anglers fishing smaller, bottom-rigged bait strips or jigs around the Swansboro waterfront or Cedar Point areas are catching sea mullet and gray trout.
Bluefish have started to move in around the area’s inlets.
Flounder are also being caught by anglers fishing soft plastics along the bottom while targeting redfish.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing is going strong along the beach. The go-to Clarkspoon and planer setup will get the job done, but fishing small-lipped plugs on lightweight tackle is another fun way to enjoy the bite.
Cobia have been showing up, so anglers need to be sure not to leave the inlets without a cobia jig ready to cast around bait balls.
King mackerel are moving in as well, with most being schoolie-sized fish (10 lb. range). There are also quite a few large kings around (in waters as near as 5 miles out).
Offshore anglers are seeing the best dolphin bite of the year, with plenty of gaffer-sized fish hitting chuggers or Sea Witch skirts rigged with ballyhoo.
Wahoo and some nice tuna have been mostly staged up right along the break hitting both naked and skirted ballyhoo, and better numbers of billfish are showing up almost daily.
Josh, of Liquid Fire Sportfishing, reports that a strong bottom fishing bite makes it an easy decision to run offshore. Targeting the offshore ledges in the 225-300’ range with live pinfish has been producing large, tackle-busting amberjacks (to 50+ lbs.).
Fishing cut bait on chicken rigs has brought up some tasty triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and a mixed bag of other bottom dwellers. This action can be out deep, but also as shallow as the 135-175’ areas.
Fishing pelagic species is also a favorite target on these long runs offshore. Anglers are finding wahoo still around, with tuna and dolphin also included in the fish box counts.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have seen a run of the chopper bluefish (to 10 lbs.).
King mackerel have also been working their way closer to the beaches, with some good-sized fish (to 20 lbs.) landed by anglers live-baiting off the end.
A cobia was hooked by the king mackerel anglers (though lost), but anglers look forward to getting more chances as cobia migrate into the area.
Spanish mackerel started showing up in good numbers. Moving into summer, they will get even more plentiful.
Bottom fishing has been producing good-sized sea mullet and pompano.
