Swansboro July 22, 2010
Crockett Henderson, of the Liquid Fire Fishing Team out of Cape Carteret, with a 7.00 lb. speckled trout he hooked in the Swansboro backwaters on a Carolina-rigged pogy. Weighed in at Dudley's Marina.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the strong southwest winds lately have created some extremely low tides. Anglers must factor the low tides, along with hot water temperatures, into their fishing strategies in order to be successful right now.
Fishing the creek mouths, channel drop-offs, and sloughs in the marshes is the best way to connect with red drum and flounder. Live finger mullet and shrimp on Carolina and float rigs will attract attention from both fish. The ICW docks, bridges, and other inshore structure should also be holding some fish, but there will be plenty of pinfish and other undesirables for anglers to work their way through.
The sheepshead and black drum bite is also on around the docks, bridges, and near structure like oyster rocks in the marshes. Live fiddler crabs and shrimp will attract their attention.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the inlet and along the beaches, though the beachfront bite has gotten spottier due to rough and dirty water. Trolling Clarkspoons and diving plugs will fool both fish when anglers can find them.
The winds also have plenty of big sharks pushed up on the beaches and in the inlet. Anglers can hook them with large cut baits or live pogies.
Kyle Cornelison, of Fuquay-Varina, NC, with a 32.5 lb. king mackerel that fell for a live pogie on 15 lb. braid on a trout rod 15 miles off Bogue Inlet.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that the wind kept a lot of anglers shore bound this past week, but there’s still some solid action offshore when boats can get out.Â
Large spanish mackerel and some big kings should still be feeding along the beaches and at nearshore structure, and both will respond to live baits like pogies (use larger baits for the kings).
Some flounder are still feeding at the nearshore reefs and other structure, as well as inshore, and anglers can hook them on Carolina-rigged live baits or bucktails tipped with live or Gulp baits.
Amberjacks and dolphin are feeding around structure further from the beaches (5-10 miles on out). Anglers can hook the jacks on live baits or a variety of fast moving lures, including flies. Trolling ballyhoo and live baits will attract attention from the dolphin, and anglers who find a school can quickly put some meat in the boat with squid or cut baits.
Jordan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the dolphin bite’s been best 20-40 miles off the beach lately. Trolled ballyhoo are the go-to baits for the ‘phins.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and just offshore. Anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, or they can target the larger fish with small live baits.
Surf fishermen have been picking up some spot recently.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been solid, especially for anglers drifting along the deeper channels. Some flatfish are still feeding at the nearshore AR’s as well. The flounder will fall for small live baits or Gulps.
Red drum are feeding on the marsh flats, and anglers are tempting them to bite live finger mullet, Gulp baits, and topwater plugs.
Dan Wehner with his first red drum, a 31" fish that fell for a Rapala Skitterwalk topwater in Swansboro-area marsh and was released after the photo. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Fishing Charters.
Doug, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been hooking up with some whiting and a few puppy drum lately, mostly on shrimp.
Plug casters are finding action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
