Swansboro June 1, 2006
INSHORE/ BACKWATER FISHING:
There are plenty of red drum, flounder, sheepshead, and bluefish along Bogue Sound, White Oak River, Queens Creek, and the tributaries behind Bear and Brown’s Islands. Aboard Fish’n4life this week we’ve been hooking up with good numbers of redfish from 17 to 27in. using RedFish Magic Spinner Baits as well as Zara Super Spooks and Tog Dogs. These fish are holding well along the ICW docks and around the flooded marsh in the sound and creeks. When drum fishing remember the strict guidelines of 1 fish per day per angler between 18 and 27in. and the measurement must be taken with the tail compressed.
We’re finding decent numbers of Summer and Southern flounder along the ICW and around the inlets and the near-by feeder creeks. Initially each season there are many small fish with larger fish soon after. This season try something new. Set up a carolina rig like typically used to fish a live bait but hook-up a Berkley Gulp 4in. shrimp or paddle tail minnow and use it while drifting or anchored casting to structure… you’ll be surprised how many flounder and reds it will produce.
The Sheepshead have moved to the internal waters and the bite has been off one day and on the next. Most of the fish in the Swansboro Area have been from 1/2 to 3lbs with an occasional larger fish. To target these sheepshead the best bait will be live Fiddler Crabs which can be caught along the mud flats and marsh shorelines at low tide or can be purchased from Dudley’s Marina in Swansboro (252-393-2204).
There are also plenty of 1 to 2lb bluefish feeding on glass minnows throughout most of the ICW and inlet connecting channels as well as current rips off points and oyster rocks in Bogue Sound, White Oak River, and Queens Creek. Casting or trolling shallow diving lures or metal jigs work well on the bluefish.
NEARSHORE FISHING:
The Spanish Mackerel are beginning to show in better numbers this week and should only get better as the first week of June approaches.  Proven methods for catching spanish include trolling small clark spoons 15+ foot behind planers or trolling weights, trolling shallow and deep diving lures on light tackle, or casting an assortment of metal jigs and lures (including gotchas, spec rigs, crippled herring, small hopkins) to schools of busting fish with a fast retrieve.
The King Mackerel have been slow to show. We are finding a few small kings (24 to 30in) around the nearshore live bottoms and AR’s while pulling deep diving lures for Spanish. The better Kings have been offshore and should move inshore now that the water temps have increased rapidly this week.
There have been some Cobia spotted and caught around the AR’s and Wrecks as well as several of the Alphabet Buoys. These fish will usually give in to a big live shad lightlined around the structure. They usually run in pairs or small schools so be sure to have several rods ready and rigged.
The Summer flounder have been hitting well on both live baits and jigs/bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp baits or strip baits. Aboard FISH’N4LIFE and TAYLOR’MADE this past week we’ve had trips with 25 or more flounder around the nearshore livebottoms and AR’s. The larger fish have been in the 4lb range thus far.
The first report of Mahi Mahi being close to the beach, at Christmas Rock last week, shingles to 15 lbers. Not bad for this time of the year.
Swansboro Rotary KMT went to a 1 day format and picked up over 40 Entries. Their decision to fish Sunday instead of the windy Saturday was another good move. Brett and Allen Barnes on the Hot Rod of Wilmington caught their fish near Frying Pan Tower.
Offshore the bite has moved from the Big Rock to the the Deep Hole. Plenty of Dolphin with a Hoo mixed in. Small kings are in the inshore rocks; AR 342, AR345 and the Keypost. Menhaden are a hit and miss so take along the trusty Yozuri Deep Divers, the 5 inch models. Most any color works, the Clown seem to be the best. Be sure to put a wire trace about 6 inches long on, or you will lose some of your Deep Divers to these toothy critters. The fish are in the 8 to 10 lb. class so take your trout rods with 8 lb. line. Bigger kings are still to the South and should be getting here in a few more weeks. If you haven’t tried the Yozuri Pink Fluoro Carbon, get ya some. Both of our National Championship fish were caught on it. Try putting F/C on 5 lbs. heavier than your main line. Captain Stanman Fishing Charters, 910 326 2392 www.captainstanman.us
Bogue Inlet Pier reports that water temperature is a warm 73 degrees. A 5lb Spanish was caught along with a 2lb pompano, and 15oz gray trout. Sea mullet and bluefish are still being brought in. The Memorial Day weekend brought many anglers to the end of the pier, hoping for the first King Mackerel to be caught.
