Added on Thursday, July 24, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro July 24, 2008

Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of finger mullet, pogies, and shrimp along the ICW and in Queen’s Creek and the White Oak.

Live shrimp fished beneath floats along the channels behind the barrier islands are producing plenty of black drum (most 1-5 lbs.) and some reds. Deeper channels like Brown’s Inlet, Sanders, Banks, and Trout Creek are also giving up some 1-3 lb. speckled trout.

Small schools of red drum are feeding in the shallow grassy bays. They’re falling for Gulp Alive baits, especially the 4″ pogies fished on 1/16 and 1/8 oz. jigheads, and topwaters like the Top Dog and Skitterwalk.

There is still excellent sheepshead fishing around the area’s bridge and dock pilings. Fiddler and mud crabs are attracting the sheepshead’s attention. Some citation-sized sheepshead (8+ lbs.) are also cruising the grass flats of Bogue Sound during the rising tides, and they will fall for a live shrimp under a small float.

Flounder fishing has been good in the deeper water of the ICW and near the inlets around structure and creek mouths. Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are producing most of the bites, and anglers should be prepared to weed through some sub-legal fish (now 15.5″) in order to catch some solid keepers.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that flounder are feeding in the deeper marshes behind Emerald Isle, around docks, and in the inlet channel and river. Casting Gulps to the fish in shallow water around high tide has been effective recently. Some puppy drum are feeding in the same areas.

Larger reds are feeding off Queen’s Creek and off the ICW behind Hammock’s Beach. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and live baits will all attract attention from the reds.

The majority of the speckled trout have moved a ways back into the creeks and rivers.

Sheepshead and black drum are feeding along the bridge pilings and at ICW docks, and anglers can hook up with both species while dropping fiddler crabs close to the structure.

Some flounder are also holding under the bridges.

Ladyfish and blues are busting baits in the ICW and nearby channels, especially at night. Live finger mullet and shrimp are the top baits.

The spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been good inside the inlet and in the ICW recently, and the fish are biting live baits and bright flashy artificials.

Larger spanish are feeding at AR-342, the Keypost, and other live bottoms and ledges 2-4 miles off Bogue Inlet. Live finger mullet will fool the larger spaniards.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that the dolphin bite is still solid out of Bogue Inlet, with some small fish caught recently near the SE Bottoms. The larger fish are hanging around Gulf Stream spots between the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock.

Several sailfish were hooked around the SE Bottoms recently, too, and pink-skirted ballyhoo got their attention.

Bottom fishing has been solid around Cripple Rock, the Papoose, and the Naeco, with anglers hooking plenty of groupers and snappers.

School kings (and a few fish into the upper teens) are feeding at the Alphabet Buoys.

Some big barracuda are stationed at the C and D Buoys, and they’re looking for meals as well.

Anglers are hooking up with amberjacks on light tackle and topwater plugs at AR-345.

There are plenty of sharks feeding near the inlet, and anglers can target them at night with live baits on wire leaders.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that the water is finally hot enough for small boats to pursue dolphin in 60-65′ of water (about 10-15 miles off the beach). Live cigar minnows and greenies under pink Cape Lookout skirts are producing the most action (most fish 10-12 lbs. with a few up to 20 lbs. thrown in).

King mackerel are scattered, and some in the 20’s have been caught at nearshore wrecks and reefs lately on live cigars and other baits jigged from the Alphabet Buoys.

Wahoo should begin moving inshore with the hot water, and they may surprise anglers trolling for the kings.

 

Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching red drum in the backwaters on topwater plugs.

The inlet and nearby channels are giving up some flounder to anglers fishing with small live baits.

Several big kings have been landed nearshore and on the pier over the past week, with most falling for live baits.

Bottom fishing has been very productive on red and gag grouper 40-50 miles offshore.

 

James, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching some sheepshead on bottom rigs with shrimp.

A few flounder are falling for live shrimp.

Plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.

Live baiters caught several king mackerel last week, the largest weighing 31 lbs.

The water is 82 degrees.