Swansboro – July 10, 2014
Mate Benson Ybanez and and Don Abraham, of Spokane, WA, with a 35″ gag grouper that bit a live menhaden at some bottom structure in 75′ of water off Bogue Inlet. The were fishing with Capt. Robbie Hall on the “Open Wide.”
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of red drum in the marshes and bays behind the local barrier islands. Topwater plugs are producing good numbers of fish right now, and anglers are hooking up while working soft plastics and casting live and cut baits on Carolina rigs when the fish don’t want to bite on top.
Speckled trout are feeding around oyster rocks and other current breaks in Queens Creek and the White Oak River. Anglers are fooling the specks on soft plastics and live baits.
Flounder fishing continues to improve inshore. Anglers are hooking some of the flatfish while fishing soft plastics and live baits for the specks and reds. More are feeding around docks and other structure along the ICW, where they’re falling for live baits on Carolina rigs and Gulp Jerkshads pinned to jigheads.
The flatfish action is still a bit slow out in the ocean, but anglers are hooking some flounder while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs around bottom structure in 40-60’ of water.
There’s been a good gag grouper bite around structure in the 70-90’ depths recently. Live baits are the best bet for anglers looking for a big gag, but they’ll bite cut and frozen baits as well.
Bear Bozard with red drum he hooked in a Swansboro-area marsh while fishing with his mom and grandfather.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been hooking big numbers of amberjacks (some to 40-50+ lbs.) while fishing around high-relief bottom structure 10-20 miles off Bogue Inlet. Most are falling for live menhaden, but anglers are also finding some exciting topwater action when the jacks are feeding heavily. Large poppers are tough for them to resist when they are willing to bite on top.
Some large barracuda are looking for meals in the same areas, but they’ve been tough to get to bite lately. Trying a variety of live baits is the best bet for anglers looking to hook one.
Bottom fishing in the 70-80’ depths is producing plenty of action with triggerfish, black sea bass, porgies, and other smaller fish. Squid on double-drop rigs is attracting attention from all the bottom feeders.
Some gag grouper are in the same areas and will also bite squid, but live baits like menhaden offer anglers better odds at the bigger gags.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers have been reporting some king mackerel action around the SE Bottoms, Hutton, Jerry’s Reef, and other spots within 15 miles of shore. Most are falling for live baits like menhaden.
Some large spanish mackerel are still feeding around the Keypost and other nearshore spots. Anglers can fool the big spaniards with smaller live baits on scaled-down king rigs.
Smaller spanish are feeding in clean water near the inlets and along the beachfront, and boaters can hook big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 planers.
Brian O’Hara with a 25″ red drum that struck a frozen finger mullet in a Bear Island marsh while kayak fishing with his wife.
Anglers are also hooking a few spanish and plenty of bluefish while working metal casting lures from the beachfront.
Surf bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, pompano, and red drum on shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits.
Inshore, anglers continue to find solid flounder, puppy drum, and speckled trout action back in the marshes. The specks and reds are biting topwater plugs, and anglers are fooling all three predators with Gulps and live baits.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the water has cleared up significantly since Hurricane Arthur, and anglers are back to catching some fish.
Live-baiters released a tarpon early this week after it struck a king rig off the end of the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some fat pompano and sea mullet on shrimp. A few puppy drum are also falling for the bottom rigs.
