Swansboro/Emerald Isle – May 2022
Randy, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are seeing a much better surf fishing bite now that water temperatures are moving up. Bottom fishing has been producing most of the action, with a mixed bag of sea mullet, blowtoads, and a few gray trout.
Speckled trout are also mixed in the landings.
Bluefish have started to move into the area. This action will really ramp up in the coming weeks as more bait pushes onto the beach.
Inshore angers have been catching red drum and some flounder (released).
Greg Schmuch, of Jacksonville, caught (and released) this snapper on cut squid in 90′ of water. He was fishing out of Bogue Inlet with Capt. Brad Smith of Gunny B Outdoors.
Benjamin, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that inshore redfish have now broken up into smaller groups and are spread out. The arrival of schools of mullet into the waterways finally prompted this change. Anglers will find success with a variety of tactics from topwater plugs and soft plastics to cut baits fished around structure.
Sheepshead and black drum are now set up around bridge pilings and similar hard inshore structure.
Bottom fishing action both at the pier and in the surf has picked up for sea mullet, black drum, and gray trout.
There are larger gray trout staged up on the nearshore ARs. Stingsilver jigs or larger soft plastics on 1/2 oz. jig heads have produced strikes.
Anglers have been finding schools of spanish mackerel and Atlantic bonito in the 2-3 mile range. Trolling Yo-Zuri diving plugs and Clarkspoons works great, as does casting metal jigs at surface-breaking fish.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum has been the primary target on recent trips with them now moving out of their winter patterns. These small pods of reds are scattered all through the marshes and up in some of the rivers and mainland creeks. Cut bait on Carolina rigs has been the top producing setup, but only when you know where the fish will be staged.
If you are searching for a bite, anglers are having a lot of success by covering water with soft plastics. Rigging them weedless is imperative with all the snot grass holding on the inshore bottoms. Topwater plugs are another awesome search bait for action from now and all the way to summer (much better, of course, on days of lighter wind conditions).
Gray trout and sea mullet are being caught in good numbers along the Swansboro waterfront. Spec rigs or bottom rigs tipped with Fish Bites bait strips are a surefire way to get some strikes. This bottom fishing has been best on the top and bottom ends of each tide cycle.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been really good this spring, with plenty of quality fish around. Targeting the mouths of creeks and points on the open river has produced most of the action.
With so much wind this year, anglers are still locating most of their red drum in the river. This area has allowed anglers to find banks with a bit more wind protection. Both the trout and red drum have been hitting topwater plugs and MirrOlure MR-17s or 27s.
Anglers fishing a couple miles off the beach are finding excellent bonito, bonita, spanish mackerel, and king fishing. Deep diving Yo-Zuri plugs have been great for this trolling bite.
There haven’t been any cobia reports yet, but they could be arriving anytime now with water temperatures close to their target range.
Offshore runs have been producing some large wahoo, along with tuna and scattered dolphin. With dolphin fishing in particular, expect the bite to pick up significantly in the coming weeks as more fish migrate into the region.
Josh, of Liquid Fire Sportfishing, reports that as winds begin to settle and with water temperatures now rising into the low 60s, the nearshore pelagic species have arrived. Atlantic bonito, spanish mackerel, false albacore, and king mackerel are all showing up in good numbers.
The bonito are best targeted by anglers making an early morning run out to nearshore ledges, rocks, and reefs in the 30-50’ range. Trolling smaller (3-5”) deep diver plugs, Sea Striker Mackerel Trees, or Clarkspoons behind #0 or #1 planers is an effective way to locate the schools. Once found, Gotcha Jigfish are effective when cast at or vertically jigged to the frenzied school.
Spanish mackerel and kings are feeding on these same bait pods being hit by the Atlantic bonito. In this area, the same trolling and casting tactics will also entice strikes from both mackerel species.
Tommy Lewis (left) and Gage Felton caught this wahoo using a black and blue Sea Witch on a planer rod north of the Swansboro Hole. They were fishing out of Bogue Inlet.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching coolers full of sea mullet while fishing bottom rigs with small cut baits. Some smaller gray trout and croakers are mixed in the bottom fishing action.
Bluefish have started to show up in the area. Over the next few weeks, more bluefish and possibly spanish mackerel will be arriving as water temperatures along the beaches warm.
