Swansboro – July 17, 2014
Jonathan Morton with a red drum that bit a live finger mullet in a Swansboro-area marsh.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid flounder action inshore right now. The fish are feeding around ICW docks, creekmouths along the mainland and marshes, and near the inlets. Anglers are fooling the flounder with live baits or Gulp Jerkshads and other soft baits fished on jigheads.
Red drum are looking for meals in the marshes behind the barrier islands, and anglers are connecting with excellent numbers right now. Casting topwater plugs and Gulp baits has been effective with the reds on many recent days, and anglers can fool them with live shrimp or live and cut mullet when they’re finicky and don’t want to bite artificials.
A few black drum and sheepshead are feeding in the marshes, particularly around oyster rocks, and they’re also taking an interest in live shrimp. More of both are looking for meals around bridge and dock pilings and biting live fiddler crabs dangled close to the structure.
The weather has kept many boats out of the ocean in recent days, but anglers should still be able to find some king mackerel and cobia feeding within 10-15 miles of the inlet. Live baits like menhaden are tough for both fish to turn down.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing good dolphin action from 5-20 miles off the beach right now (many smaller slingers but some gaffers in the mix). The ‘phins are falling for live baits like menhaden and cigar minnows along with dead ballyhoo.
A few king mackerel and cobia are in the same areas and biting the same baits as well.
Carolina and Will Newcomb with a 4 lb. spanish mackerel and a gaffer dolphin that bit live baits 16 miles off New Topsail Inlet while they were fishing on the “Ditch Digger.”
Big numbers of large tiger sharks have been around recently, too, and the cobia have often been shadowing the tigers.
Bottom fishing has been producing plenty of action with triggerfish, black sea bass, grunts, porgies, and more at spots in the 80’ range. Cut baits, squid, and small jigs are attracting attention from the bottom dwellers.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing some solid red drum action in the local marshes right now. Most are falling for topwater plugs and Gulp baits.
Some flounder are also feeding in the marshes, and anglers are connecting with more around structure like docks off the ICW. Live baits and Gulps are fooling the flatfish.
Anglers are also reporting a solid summer speckled trout bite in the creeks and rivers in the area. Live baits, soft plastics, and suspending hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s are the way to go for the specks.
Surf casters along the Emerald Isle beachfront are connecting with sea mullet, pompano, croaker, bluefish, and a few flounder and puppy drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for metal lures that anglers are working from the sand.
Anglers are hooking more spanish and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons from boats just off the shoreline and inlet.
Larger spaniards, along with some king mackerel and dolphin, have been reported around the Keypost and other nearshore structure in the area. All are taking an interest in live menhaden.
Flounder are feeding on the bottom around the same areas and the local AR’s. Anglers can fool the flatfish with 2 oz. bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with spot, sea mullet, pinfish, pompano, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
