Swansboro / Emerald Isle – October 2023
Mickey, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that bottom rig setups from the surf are producing a variety of sea mullet, spot, pompano, bluefish, black drum, and flounder. At times, anglers are able to cast at schools of Spanish mackerel and bluefish that move close to the beach, and some flounder and red drum are mixed in the surf action, too. Red drum and flounder are being found just about everywhere in the sound, from the creek mouths, to docks along the ICW, to around the inlets. Bottom fishing with fresh shrimp around hard structures is producing black drum and gray trout. Speckled trout action is starting to pick up with the cooling water temps. Nearshore anglers are finding Spanish mackerel and flounder out on the local wrecks. King mackerel are scattered, but this bite should get better as conditions settle and waters clean up.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that speckled trout have started showing up everywhere from the inlets back into the river mouths. Anglers are having success enticing strikes with live finger mullet, live shrimp, and soft plastics. Red drum are scattered just about everywhere in the backwaters and rivers. With the mullet running, there is also a good concentration of fish around the inlet. Finger mullet or Gulp soft plastics have been the top producing baits. Flounder fishing has been solid for anglers targeting docks and other structure. There is also a good population out in the ocean when conditions allowed the run. Bucktail jigs and live mullet have been the best choice to land one of these flatfish. Black drum are also in the inshore mix. Live shrimp has been producing most of the bites, with target areas being deep marsh creeks, oyster structures, and river mouths.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that the flounder bite has been really good for anglers taking advantage of the keeper season. A jig head or Carolina-rigged live mullet have been the top setups, with soft plastics also enticing strikes. With the mullet run in full swing, red drum are scattered all throughout the area. The marsh areas have been great target areas, and bottom-rigged cut baits are producing best. The speckled trout bite is slowly picking up. For now, topwater plugs or live bait fished under a cork will entice a strike. Anglers fishing the area’s hard structure (bridges, oysters, and docks) are catching sheepshead and black drum. Any mix of sand fleas, live shrimp, or sea urchins will get these fish to bite.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore waters are absolutely loaded with bait from the creeks and rivers out to the inlet, and fish are scattered everywhere with them. Anglers targeting their keeper flounder during the season have had success fishing Carolina-rigged finger mullet around oyster rocks. The incoming tide has been best for fishing these areas. Red drum are scattered all throughout the marshes and shallow bays. Cut baits work well in attracting the fish you can’t sight cast to. These fish are truly everywhere, so if you aren’t getting bit, it is time to move around. Speckled trout fishing is getting better. Start looking for trout to be staged up in their fall spots around deeper structure, deep banks, and other areas with current flow.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the king mackerel action is heating up as fish move in close to the beach. Live bait will be best for perking a king’s interest. Inshore, the speckled trout should really start picking up around the inlets and near structure in the ICW. For anglers targeting the trout, they’ll find that live shrimp can’t be beat. When trout fishing, around the inlet especially, a falling tide can help tip the action in your favor. Red drum action is also heating up as these fish start to move into better-sized schools. The topwater bite in the mornings has been red hot, and this continues moving into the coming weeks. As the sun gets higher, fishing Gulp shrimp has helped stay on the action.
Tyler, of Drumroll Charters, reports that nearshore runs are starting to see schools of false albacore showing up with more consistency. The albies are mixed in with schools of Spanish mackerel (some jumbos) from the beach out to three miles, and both species tend to hang more around structure. Some keeper flounder are out around the nearshore structure and back inside along the ICW. Puppy drum action has been really good, with fish scattered just about everywhere. The target areas can be any variety of docks, shallow back bays, backwater creeks, grass banks, or oyster beds. A Carolina-rigged live or cut finger mullet is a fairly unbeatable setup this time of year. Speckled trout action is starting to pick up and only gets better moving into fall as water temperatures come down.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that nearshore anglers are excited to start seeing schools of false albacore arriving off the beaches. You can sight-cast metal jigs at these surface-feeding schools as they pop up. Some Spanish mackerel are still being caught, with hopefully some of the bigger fish showing up as they start to migrate back south. King mackerel are around, though the fall bite really hasn’t seemed to kick off yet. Grouper fishing has been good on the deeper structured areas.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers looking for their keeper flounder during the open season have found plenty of nice-sized flatfish (to 5 lbs.). Bottom fishing efforts have produced red drum, pompano, sheepshead, and some bluefish. Anglers casting plugs have caught good-sized Spanish mackerel (to 3+ lbs.) and bluefish, and live baiting off the end is producing some king mackerel (to 20 lbs.).
