Swansboro July 18, 2013
Patrick Jordan with a 27 lb. king mackerel that bit a large menhaden in the propwash while he was slow-trolling in 55′ of water off Bogue Inlet with Capt. Chesson O’Briant of CXC Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding red drum in the barrier island marshes and around oyster rocks in the mainland creeks and rivers. Anglers are hooking good numbers on live finger mullet (which have become even more abundant), but Gulp baits and often topwater plugs will produce for anglers who want to cast artificials. Pinning the live mullet to jigheads or light Carolina rigs is the best way to fish them.
There are also flounder feeding inshore alongside the reds, at deeper structure off the ICW, and around the inlets. Live finger mullet are also tough for the flatfish to resist, but Gulp can produce plenty of action as well.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that there’s still a solid red drum bite going on in the Bogue Sound marshes. Anglers are hooking good numbers of the reds in the early morning hours on topwater plugs, with live baits and Gulps producing later in the day and when the fish don’t want to eat on top. Good numbers of bait-sized finger mullet are in the marshes now, too, so anglers shouldn’t have to work too hard to get some live baits.
There have also been good numbers of reds feeding around grasslines and structure on the ICW, where live baits will tempt them to bite.
Tyler Eastgate, of Jacksonville, NC, with a 21″ flounder that bit a Gulp Mantis Shrimp in a marsh near Bear Inlet.
There are flounder in many of the same spots, but the flounder action is still a bit off for this time of year.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around bridge pilings and other hard structure inshore in the area. Live fiddler crabs are tough for the sheeps to turn down.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking a few king mackerel within 10 miles of the beaches. A few cobia are still feeding in the same range, and both will pounce on live menhaden.
Amberjacks are schooling up around bottom structure in 60’ of water and deeper. They’ll also show big interest in live baits, and anglers can hook them on topwater plugs, vertical jigs, and even flies when they’re feeding aggressively.
A variety of large sharks are holding in the same areas as the kings, and they won’t take long to find a dead or cut bait.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the water’s still dirty from the recent weather, but anglers are finding some fish to catch.
The rain seems to have pushed some red drum from the backwaters to the beachfront, where anglers are hooking them while surf fishing with shrimp, cut baits, and finger mullet.
Paul Honegger, of Richlands, NC, with a 15 lb. red drum he caught and released in the White Oak River while fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Some sea mullet are also feeding in the surf, and they’re biting shrimp.
Flounder fishing has been fairly good around docks and other structure off the ICW. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits are go-to choices for the flatfish.
Not many boats have made it into the ocean lately, but some large spanish mackerel are starting to show up at the nearshore live bottoms and AR’s. Small menhaden or finger mullet pinned to scaled-down king mackerel rigs are the way to go for the big spaniards.
Dolphin had pushed inshore as far as the SE Bottoms before the storms, so anglers may well find some ‘phins inshore of the Gulf Stream when they make it back out.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are hooking spot, sea mullet, pompano, and an occasional black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Live-baiters on the end of the pier have had a few strikes lately, but they haven’t put anything on the deck. With clearing weather ahead, it shouldn’t be long until some king mackerel and tarpon show up, and plug casters should see a renewed bluefish and spanish mackerel bite as well.
