Swansboro July 9, 2009
Mr. Pittman, Paul Pittman, and Eric Yoerk with a brace of king mackerel they hooked near Honeymoon Rock.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that with a few cooler days this week, anglers may have a chance at some speckled trout action in the early mornings, but the action will die a few hours after sunrise. Casting topwater plugs, MirrOlures, and Gulp baits around grass flats and oyster rocks adjacent to the creeks and rivers flowing in from the mainland is the best strategy for the specks, and deeper holes nearby further increase anglers’ odds.
A few trout, some flounder, and good numbers of black drum are feeding in the deeper creeks near the inlets, and anglers are hooking up with all three while fishing with live shrimp on float rigs.
It’s just about time for larger flounder to begin pushing into the Coast Guard channel and the deeper creek mouths on the mainland side. Casting Carolina-rigged finger mullet or other live baits around structure (like docks) and in the deeper holes should produce action with the flatties.
The water’s been a little dirty for good red drum fishing lately, but anglers are still finding some reds willing to bite around oyster rocks and grass banks near the marsh edges. Gulp baits and topwaters should prove tempting to the reds when anglers can find them.
There’s been tons of bait inshore lately, so anglers looking to load a livewell with finger mullet or shrimp should have little trouble along mud-bottomed marsh shorelines in the area.
There have also been plenty of baitfish moving along the beaches and around the nearshore reefs lately, and plenty of big spanish mackerel, amberjacks, kings, and dolphin are there to feed on it. Some cobia are also around. Anglers can slow-troll or free-line live baits near the AR’s and other nearshore structure to hook up with the fish. And with the heat lately, baits fished deep off of downriggers have been producing most of the action.
Flounder are also stacked up on the nearshore structure, and anglers are hooking them while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails off the bottom. Some sea bass and other assorted bottom dwellers are in the mix as well.
Hannah Carter with an over-slot red drum she hooked on a Carolina rig while fishing the Swansboro backwaters with Capt. Jeff Cronk of FishN4Life Charters.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that anglers are picking up some black drum (1-5 lbs.) and slot reds while fishing oyster rocks off points in the area’s shallow bays. Live shrimp under popping corks are fooling most of the black drum, and the reds are falling for Gulp Alive pogies, minnows, and shrimp on light jigheads and Cape Lookout Flatsmasters.
Flounder are feeding near the inlets and in the smaller feeder creeks on falling tides. Smaller (2-4”) live baits on Carolina rigs or Gulp pogies on light jigheads will tempt the flatties to bite.
Speckled trout (most 1-5 lbs.) are coming from near Bear and Brown’s Inlets and the deeper channels behind the barrier islands.
Off the beaches, the nearshore live bottoms and reefs are producing some excellent flounder fishing (likely due to the cold winter pushing the summer flounder south into our waters). Double digit numbers of flatties (1-5 lbs.) are common for anglers bouncing bucktails on the nearshore structure right now.
The spanish mackerel bite has been solid lately, but the king fishing’s been a little slower over the past week. Anglers can expect the king bite to pick up over the next few weeks.
Jason, from Sioux Falls, SD, with a red grouper he hooked on a cigar minnow while fishing 40 miles off Topsail on the headboat "Vonda Kay" with Capt. Dave Gardner.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the nearshore wrecks, reefs, and live bottoms in 40-60’ are producing plenty of action for live baiters right now. Some big spanish mackerel (to 4+ lbs.) are mixed in with good numbers of kings (most 6-15 lbs. with a few larger), plenty of barracudas, and some dolphin. Live pogies or baits like greenies and cigar minnows will produce plenty of action with all these pelagic species.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there have been plenty of flounder on the feed inshore lately, but many are still on the small side. Gulp baits and live mud minnows or finger mullet are producing most of the action with the flatties.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes, and anglers are scoring hookups with the reds on spinnerbaits and topwater plugs.
Spanish mackerel are working through schools of pogies that have been moving down the beachfronts, and anglers can hook the spanish on small live baits or while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and spoons.
King mackerel and dolphin are feeding a bit further offshore from the nearshore reefs out to 15 miles. Live baits or dead cigar minnows will produce action with both the kings and dolphin.
The nearshore AR’s are holding good numbers of flounder right now. Bouncing Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits off the bottom at the reefs is a good way to hook up with the flatfish.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some whiting and some fat pompano (2-3 lbs.) on shrimp.
Plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish, and Gotcha plugs are producing much of the action.
Live baiters landed king mackerel up to 23 lbs. last week.
