Swansboro/ Emerald Isle – June 2023
Mickey, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers have been seeing the action pick up for red drum both back in the marshes and along the ICW. The influx of bait into the area has really helped get these fish more actively chewing.
Sheepshead and black drum are being found with some consistency by dropping a variety of crabs around the hard structures.
Speckled trout are mixed in the action, though with warmer waters the bite is pretty hit or miss.
Bottom fishing from the surf has been producing some nice sea mullet, black drum, and flounder (releases). Schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel are becoming more common along the beaches, at times moving within casting distance.
Anglers fishing nearshore have been doing well both sight casting and trolling metals for bluefish, spanish, and some of the last remaining bonito hanging around. A few good-sized king mackerel (to 19 lbs.) have also been landed as they work their way closer to the beaches.
The area is in the cusp of cobia season, and there are fish in the area being caught by anglers both fishing live or cut baits and sight casting around bait pods off the beach.
The Gulf Stream is producing catches of mahi, blackfin tuna, yellowfins, and scattered wahoo.
Grouper fishing has been steady for anglers running to those structures in the 70’ depths and further out.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum action has been solid for anglers fishing a variety of both live and cut baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs. It seems the smaller reds are pretty scattered, whereas the bigger fish are holding in little schools.
Sheepshead are around and feeding on fiddler crabs and shrimp fished against pilings. Structure closer to the inlets has seemed to hold better numbers of fish.
At high tide, the inlets are full of bluefish and spanish mackerel, and anglers are catching them by casting Stingsilvers, spec rigs, or live threadfins.
Nearshore anglers are finding plenty of spanish mackerel alongside some bonito still hanging around. Smaller menhaden have made the best bait for hooking into the larger fish.
Some cobia have been showing up around the bait, and they’ve been anywhere from the beach out to the 5-6 mile range.
Pat Barrett, of PA, caught this upper-slot red drum using a topwater bait. He was fishing in the Swansboro area with Capt. Dale Collins, of Fish Or Die Charters.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that the red drum have broken into small groups and are headed in all different directions. Anglers have been chasing these fish by quickly scouting through different spots with topwater plugs and soft plastics. If fishing some structure or drop-offs, anglers can have success with Carolina-rigged menhaden or mullet.
Black drum and sheepshead are gathered around the area’s bridges and deep-water docks. A variety of fiddler crabs, sea urchins, and fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs will entice a strike.
Flounder are in the ICW and staged up near oysters and docks. Any of the artificial or natural baits fished on the bottom by red drum anglers are landing some of these flatfish (released).
Off the beach, menhaden schools have been showing up in good numbers. There have been bluefish and spanish mackerel all around them and blowing up on the bait. Casting Stingsilvers and similar glass minnow style metal jigs at these feeding frenzies will garner strikes.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action is picking up now that these scattered groups of fish are feeding more actively. The main areas to target are in the marshes, specifically oyster points with nearby drop-offs. Fishing a piece of cut menhaden has been best.
There have been a lot of sheepshead and black drum around the inshore bridges and hard structures. Both fiddler crabs and sand fleas will be best for targeting these species.
Spanish mackerel are thick from the beachfront out to three miles, and both sight casting and trolling tactics will put some fish in the boat.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the king mackerel have started showing up right along the beaches (within three miles). The sizes have varied, but it’s mostly been a bunch of snakes with just a few larger ones mixed in. Trolling dead baits is great for numbers and will hook a bunch of smaller kings. If targeting the one big strike, it’s a great idea to throw some live bait into the mix.
Inside, the red drum have been moving around in smaller groups as they have broken out of their cooler water patterns.
Speckled trout are mostly out in the main river now. Most bites have come from anglers fishing artificial baits really early, where bait fishing is better once the sun is up.
Tyler, of Drumroll Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing a consistent bite on some slot-sized red drum now that there is warm water throughout the area.
Sheepshead action is really picking up around bridges and other hard inshore structures. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins have been best for getting these tasty fish to chew.
Cobia have arrived, and the best bet is to target these fish around nearshore structure, inlets, or cruising with rays.
Katrina Thompson, from Elkins, WV, with a 6 lb. sheepshead caught on live shrimp in the ICW. She was fishing in the Swansboro area with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Guide Service.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that spanish mackerel have been really thick outside the inlets, out along the beachfronts, but mostly over the nearshore ARs. Mixed in with them are still some late season bonito.
The deeper ARs are now holding a bunch of large amberjacks.
Offshore trolling has been producing good numbers of mahi and scattered wahoo.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that sight casting anglers are catching both good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
The first king mackerel of the year was landed (19.3 lbs.).
Bottom fishing has produced sheepshead and some nice pompano (to 2+ lbs.).
