Swansboro June 11, 2009
Ryan Pruitt, from Raleigh, NC, with a big summer flounder that fell for a 4" Gulp Pogy in 1' of water. He was fishing the Swansboro backwaters with Capt. Jeff Cronk of FishN4Life Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the sheepshead bite has been on fire lately (with most fish 1-4 lbs.). Fishing fiddler crabs around the area’s bridge and dock pilings is the best way to hook up with them, and it is also producing some black drum.
Bigger numbers of black drum are feeding around the oyster rocks in the area’s marshes, creeks, and rivers, where they’ll take an interest in live shrimp or crab baits.
Puppy drum are mixed in with the backwater black drum, and anglers are finding bigger reds (18-28″) feeding throughout the marshes. A live shrimp under a popping cork is a virtually foolproof way to target the reds, but topwater plugs are also effective and even more exciting.
A few speckled trout are coming from the deep holes in Queen’s Creek and the White Oak River, and the trout bite’s been excellent lately in the New and Neuse Rivers, where the fish are spawning.
The flounder bite is picking up around the deep channels near the inlets, and anglers are catching plenty on the nearshore AR’s and other structure. Gulp baits or live baits on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flatfish.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are seemingly everywhere, both inshore and in the inlet, along the beaches, and at the nearshore AR’s. Anglers can hook up while trolling Clarkspoons or casting to breaking fish, but a small free-lined or slow-trolled live bait will fool the largest fish.
Amberjacks are stacking up around the buoys, AR’s, and other structure. Plenty of smaller kings are in the same areas, and trolling cigar minnows or spoons will help anglers locate them.
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Tracy and Howard with an American red snapper and a lobster they hooked on squid while fishing 40 miles off Topsail on the headboat "Vonda Kay" with Capt. Dave Gardner.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that anglers are finding good action with speckled trout in Bogue Sound, the White Oak River, Queen’s Creek, and near Brown’s Inlet. Most of the fish are spikes (under 16″), but anglers have weighed in a few over 4 lbs. this week. Live shrimp are the top spec foolers, but Gulp baits on light jigheads will do the trick, too.
Anglers are hooking up with big numbers of lower to mid-slot reds which can pass through the flounder nets, but they’re not finding many of the larger (25-30″) fish. The reds are biting just about anything, but a topwater is the most exciting way to locate the fish. Poling or using a trolling motor to explore the bays and creeks will help anglers find the reds without spooking them.
Sheepshead are feeding hard along the boat docks and bridge pilings in the area. Fiddler and mud crabs on strong, short-shank hooks will fool them into biting.
The summer flounder bite is picking up both inshore and nearshore. Anglers are hooking good numbers of flatties while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails or Carolina-rigged live baits off the bottom at the live bottoms and artificial reefs just off Bogue Inlet. Inshore, anglers are catching 2-3 per trip while fishing for other species.
A few king mackerel, large spanish, cobia, and tons of amberjacks are feeding on the live bottoms and reefs as well.
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Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that king mackerel are feeding within 5 miles of the beaches. Trolling live baits or Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will fool the kings.
Dolphin are mixed in with the kings starting around 8 miles offshore, and trolled ballyhoo will fool both the dolphin and king macks.
Further offshore, the dolphin bite remains solid out to the Gulf Stream, and trolled ballyhoo are producing excellent results.
Deep jigging with butterfly jigs and bucktails at structure in 150-200′ is producing action with Almaco and amberjacks, triggerfish, and African pompano.
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Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers have been hooking up with decent numbers of fat pompano (2-3 lbs.) along with a few whiting and spot.
Shark fishermen are starting to put some pretty impressive sharks on the beach while casting out large cut baits.
Inshore, anglers are picking up good numbers of red drum in the marshes on topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and Gulps.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding along the beachfront and at nearshore structure. Both will take an interest in Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or Clarkspoons.
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Jerry, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching some stout spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs, along with good numbers of bluefish.
Live baiters landed several king mackerel last week, with the largest weighing 16 lbs. Several cobia also took an interest in the live baits.
Bottom fishermen are picking up a mixed bag of black drum, pompano, whiting, and spot.
