Swansboro July 21, 2005
Capt. Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that lots of 3-5″ mullet minnows are around the Swansboro waterfront and along the shores of the ICW, as well as along West Channel. There are plenty of live shrimp in the feeder creeks at the mouth of Queens Creek and White Oak River, and 3-6″ shad are in Hills Bay, Fosters Bay, and behind Dudley’s Island.
There are plenty of southern flounder along the ICW and up White Oak River and Queens Creek right now. Most fish are ranging from 1-3 lbs., with a few larger mixed in. There are some small 1-2 lb. summer flounder in the connecting channels near Bogue, Bear, and Brown’s Inlets. Try drifting near the walls of these channels with live or strip bait. The summer flounder fishing along area reefs and live bottoms in the ocean is picking up a little.
There are some scattered schools of good-sized (3-5 lbs.) spanish mackerel along the nearshore live bottoms. There are also plenty of small 5-10 lb. kings mixed in with the spanish, along with an occasional 20+lber.
There are plenty of 18-22″ puppy drum along the ICW with the recent low tides. Some scattered schools of 20-25″ reds are working the surf around Bear and Brown’s Inlets.
Although the sheepshead bite is slow with the warm water temps, fish are being caught. For a better bite try fishing the rising tide with the cooler ocean water coming into the sound and river.
Herb, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that they’ve been picking up a few gray trout. The gray trout have been coming in the night and morning on the high tide. Bottom fishermen are picking up a couple of sea mullet and pompano. There were no spanish or kings caught recently, but one evening a guy brought in a 3.5 lb. spadefish.
Nate, at Reel Outdoors, reports that the surf has had catches of sea mullet, pompano, and spots. In the sound there has been a summer mixed bag of flounder, puppy drum, and speckled trout. And dolphin and kings are coming from the beach on out. The bigger dolphin have been 10-20 lbs., but most are smaller than 10 lbs. The kings have been averaging around 10 lbs., with live bait increasing your chance at a king up to 30 lbs.
