Swansboro/Emerald Isle – September 2022
Mickey, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers have been finding a scattered bite on both speckled trout and red drum throughout the ICW and up into mainland creeks.
Plenty of flounder are being caught in anticipation of the keeper season, and anglers targeting docks with deeper holes and bridge structure have been catching a few black drum.
Nearshore anglers have found spanish mackerel action to be picking up now that water temperatures are cooling ever so slightly.
Further off the beach, anglers are catching grouper and king mackerel.
Offshore trolling trips have been producing wahoo and scattered dolphin, and the offshore bottom fishing has been really good with grouper, triggerfish, and large black sea bass.
Korteney Gray caught (and released) this flounder with a live mullet on a Carolina rig while fishing around Topsail Inlet.
Benjamin, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that spanish mackerel have started showing back up in better numbers outside the inlets and along the beaches. At times, they’re even moving within casting distance of surf anglers.
King mackerel action remains steady. The bite is a bit scattered, but the fish being caught are a good size.
Anglers fishing inshore bridge pilings and docks are seeing good sheepshead and black drum action. Live fiddler crabs or urchins on Jawbreaker or similar bottom rigs are getting the strikes.
Flounder have been staged up just about everywhere, and anglers are ready for the season to open to be targeting flatfish in the ICW, marshes, channels, and around oyster points.
Some over-slot red drum have been mixed in the inshore action, surely feeding on all the good-sized finger mullet pushing around.
Surf anglers have been finding some nice-sized pompano scattered around.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that both red and black drum have been holding back up in the marsh grasses on higher tide cycles. Live shrimp in the area have been plentiful and will entice bites from both species. As the mullet run starts over the next few weeks, look for the fish to push out more towards deeper ledges close to the inlet.
Speckled trout are being caught in the deeper channels (4-15’ range) eating live shrimp or mullet drifted under corks. Bluefish are in these same areas and will strike at the same baits.
Big sheepshead and black drum are holding around deeper structures, with live shrimp fished on the bottom getting hits.
Nearshore anglers are finding large spanish mackerel and kings while fishing live shad over rocks and reefs in the 5-6 mile range.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing great days while fishing for red drum. A lot of over-slot fish are in the mix, which is a great bonus. Carolina-rigged menhaden or mullet has produced, but also has light-weighted soft plastics and Rapala Skitter Walk plugs.
Flounder are still plenty active. Soft plastics (on jig heads or 3/4 oz. bucktail jigs with Gulp shrimp trailers) and Carolina-rigged mullet are getting the flatfish bites.
Speckled trout are starting to show up in creeks around the inlets. Soft plastics on light jig heads, MirrOlures, and popping corks with live bait will entice these trout to strike.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged up around bridges and deep-water docks. Fiddler crabs, urchins, blue crabs, and live or dead shrimp will get either species in the boat.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are scattered just about everywhere. Anglers have enjoyed fishing topwater plugs when finding the right conditions (such as lighter winds). When conditions haven’t cooperated, live bait has helped get the job done. High tide has the fish more scattered and pushed up along grass lines. On lower tides, anglers are having success targeting flats that are shallow (but not dry).
Flounder fishing has been picking up. Anglers are having a lot of success fishing 4” Gulp shrimp on light weight (1/8 oz.) Fathom Bug-Eye jig heads.
Anglers fishing in the mainland river systems are catching a few smaller, summertime trout while targeting rocks.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that on the offshore side, wahoo have been making a showing. This bite only gets better in coming weeks as water temperatures begin to cool. The typical red/black and purple/black color patterns rigged with medium-sized ballyhoo fished deep (behind a planer or on a downrigger) has gotten the job done.
Mahi are still around, though most are bailer-sized fish with gaffers only scattered in the mix. Anglers need to be giving a look at grass mats or any other floating debris to cast baits at.
Nearshore fishing has been good early, and then slowing during the hottest parts of the day. Live bait has been best, but switching over to dead bait rigs mid-day to cover more ground has been a productive move. Anglers have been catching both kings and mahi with this tactic.
Some cobia will also be around nearshore as they migrate back south through the region.
Inshore anglers have had some great red drum fishing all summer. Just when they think the bite has peaked, it keeps getting better. Carolina-rigged cut or live finger mullet have produced most strikes, with artificials becoming more popular as water temperatures cool.
Garrett Stephens, of Greenville, caught this redfish using a Carolina rig with a mud minnow in Bogue Sound.
Mark, of Liquid Fire Sportfishing, reports that leaving the dock with live bait (pinfish or menhaden) is key in the summer. Taking these out to nearshore reefs and ledges in 45-55’ has produced amberjack, barracuda, and false albacore.
Further out (in the 65-75’ range), anglers are catching large spanish, small kings, and false albacore on lightweight rod setups.
There are good-sized kings (25-35 lb. range) out in these same areas, with slow-trolled live baits enticing the big strikes.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that a few good-sized kings (to 23 lbs.) have been caught in recent days.
Anglers fishing live baits on king rigs have also landed a few of the larger spanish mackerel (to 5 lbs.), and a few bluefish schools are also breezing by the pier.
Speckled trout and some flounder are being caught with live baits fished early and late.
Bottom fishing has been really good, with anglers catching mixed bags of croakers, sea mullet, pompano, and sheepshead.
