Swansboro – July 9, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers continue to find plenty of action with red drum in the local marshes. Most are falling for live baits like finger mullet and topwater plugs at present.
A few flounder are feeding alongside the reds in the marshes, and anglers are also seeing the flatfish in the White Oak River and around ICW structure. Live baits and Gulps are attracting attention from the flounder.
Sheepshead are still looking for meals around docks and bridge pilings inshore. Some black drum are in the same areas, and both fish will strike live fiddler crabs dangled close to the structure.
Ladyfish have shown up in the ICW, and anglers can find action with the acrobatic predators around lighted structure like docks and bridges at night. Live shrimp or a variety of artificials will tempt bites from the ladies.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around and inside Bogue Inlet. Both will bite metal casting jigs or flashy trolling lures like Clarkspoons.
Not many boats have fished the ocean recently, but the water is calming down and the week ahead looks like it should offer some good nearshore opportunities weather-wise. Large spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, and dolphin are looking for meals at live bottoms, wrecks, and other spots 2-12 miles offshore. Anglers can tempt bites from all of them while slow-trolling or drifting with live menhaden and other baits.
Helen Peel, of Reidsville, NC, with a 21.5″ spanish mackerel she caught just off Bogue Inlet after it struck a Yo-Zuri Deep Diver.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers who’ve made it to the blue water over the past week found some solid dolphin and wahoo fishing along the break. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling most of the fish.
Anglers bottom fishing around and inside the break are connecting with triggerfish, beeliners, sea bass, grouper, and more. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits, live baits, and vertical jigs will all attract attention from the bottomfish.
Wes Scholz, of Richmond, VA, with a 20″ flounder and a 24″ red drum that bit Gulp baits on back-to-back casts while he was fishing a Bear Island marsh with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still primarily seeing action with panfish like croaker and sea mullet while soaking baits in the local surf. A few puppy drum are likely around as well.
Anglers continue to catch decent numbers of puppy drum in the marshes throughout Bogue Sound. Live and cut baits, Gulps, and topwater plugs are all attracting attention from the pups.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas, and anglers are also hooking them around inshore structure like docks.
Not many anglers have fished the ocean recently, but there should still be tarpon, cobia, and king mackerel cruising within a few miles of land when the water calms down. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish will tempt bites from all three.
There was a good bite of kings along with some dolphin 10-15 miles offshore last week, and anglers were hooking them on live and dead baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the beaches and will bite trolled Clarkspoons.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers released several tarpon while live-baiting from the end of the pier early in the week. Some large spanish mackerel are also falling for the live baits.
Anglers are hooking smaller spanish and some bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are primarily hooking pigfish and spots at present.
The water is 82 degrees.
