Swansboro – July 30, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing big numbers of red drum feeding in the marshes and bays behind the area’s barrier islands. Plenty are falling for artificial lures, but there are big numbers of shrimp and mullet in the marshes right now and the natural baits have been outfishing the fakes recently.
Anglers are also hooking some black drum on the shrimp while fishing around marsh grass banks and oyster points at higher tides.
Larger flounder are showing up inshore (including a 7-pounder this past week), with some of the best action around ICW drains and drop-offs on falling tides. A few red drum are mixed in, and both are falling for live finger mullet.
Sheepshead are looking for meals at bridge and dock pilings in the area and biting live fiddler crabs dangled close to the structure.
Out in the ocean, there’s been some excellent spanish mackerel action for anglers trolling along the beachfront. Most are falling for Clarkspoons paired with small planers and inline weights.
Some larger spanish are still around and biting live baits at nearshore structure, but the bite’s slower than it was a few weeks ago. There are decent numbers of king mackerel in the same areas and readily biting live baits.
Flounder fishing at nearshore reefs and wrecks in the ocean is improving. Anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on Gulp baits pinned to bucktail jigs.
Adam Jackson, of Raleigh, NC, with a triggerfish that bit a Gulp-tipped bucktail jig at some nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Jonathan Garrett of On Point Fishing Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking some red drum and flounder in the area’s backwaters.
Most are feeding in the bays of Bogue Sound and near structure along the waterway, and both fish will bite Gulps or live baits. Anglers can also fool the reds on topwater plugs when they’re feeding in the shallows.
The speckled trout bite is turning on inshore as well. Most are coming from the area’s rivers and creeks, but anglers are hooking a few in the sound as well. Live baits, soft plastics, and suspending hard baits will fool the trout.
Surf casters are seeing plenty of finger mullet along the beachfront and some predators have been taking notice.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for casting lures for surf and pier anglers.
Some slot and over-slot red drum are also feeding in the breakers and biting finger mullet and shrimp.
Off the beaches, anglers are finding flounder around nearshore structure in the ocean. Bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits are attracting attention from the flatfish.
Some king mackerel and an occasional cobia are feeding in the same areas. Anglers can tempt both to bite live baits like menhaden.
Shannon Hobbs, of Swansboro, with a red drum that bit a live finger mullet in Muddy Creek while she was fishing with Capt. Chris Sewell of Fishead Charter.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some large spanish mackerel on live baits fished off the end of the pier (some 5+ lbs.).
Smaller spanish and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are primarily seeing pinfish at present.
The water is 82 degrees.
