Swansboro June 15, 2006
Jeff, at FishN4Life Charters, reports that the sheepshead continue to bite sporadically but they’re reliable, with fish ranging from 3/4 to 5 lbs. (and an occasional fish over 5 lbs.). The best baits are live fiddler crabs or sand fleas.
The summer flounder bite has picked up a little on the inside, with lots of summer flounder migrating into the inlets, sounds, and rivers lately. Fish are running up to 6 lbs. this week. Drifting the inlet channels, the ICW, or fishing around structure like docks, oyster rocks, and grass flats are all producing.
The redfish are scattered throughout the marsh systems, creeks, and deep channels including the ICW. The full moon phase is causing very good high tides which allow these predators to search the normally very shallow bays and marshes for shrimp, crabs, and mullet as a meal. Be sure to try the shallows on the higher tide for some explosive strikes on topwater and jerk baits.
There are a few speckled trout around in the 12 to 18” range this week, with the best luck coming from fishing live shrimp under a slip cork rig. These speckled trout are scattered around the mouth of the creeks and throughout the channels behind Emerald Isle, Bear and Brown’s Islands, and some of the shallow water around Bogue Sound.
The summer flounder are showing well over all the nearshore live bottoms, ledges, and artificial reefs. Flounder are being caught just off the beach and as far out as 9 miles. These fish don’t seem to be concentrated in any one place yet, but rather they’re scattered in small schools everywhere. Most of the fish range from 1 to 5 lbs., with a few fish in the 6+ lb. range. On calm days, for the best success try drifting around these areas. If the wind is strong, then power drifting (using the motor in reverse to slow the boat) works well, or you can anchor and fan cast the area.
The spanish have been biting very well from Bogue Inlet to Bogue Pier in the 20 to 40’ depths, as well as to the west of Bogue Inlet along Bear Island. The best success has been on silver and gold Clark spoons. Try trolling several different sizes at different depths in the water column using either trolling weights or planers. Most of these fish have been from 12 to 20”, and there have been some fish up to 24” mixed in.
The king mackerel bite slowed near the beach this week, but it should get better as more bait shows on these nearshore bottoms. Most of the kings have been caught on live shad, cigar minnows, and/or trolled drone spoons. These fish have been ranging from 23 to 30”, with some larger fish farther off the beach.
The dolphin have showed up all over the nearshore live bottoms, with fish ranging from small shingle (just a few pounds) to fish in the 10 to 15 lb. range. Most of the dolphin have struck slow trolled live baits.
The cobia continue to show themselves along the beaches and around the live bottoms, ledges, and artificial reefs. Fish have been spotted hanging around flotsum, buoys, high relief structure, and large schools of bait. These fish can often be picky, so try bringing along a couple of blue crabs to entice a spooky cobia to eat.
Stan, at Capt. Stanman Charters, reports that the dolphin have been abundant at the nearshore rocks, Christmas Rock, AR-345, and the Honey Hole. They moved in for a few days and then moved right back out. They will be back. The north wind and full moon changed their feeding cycle, so look for them to turn back on next week.
The dolphin are still plentiful at temperature breaks around the gulf stream; the 14 Buoy and the 90 Foot Drop are good starting points.
Dolphin Alley is located just to the northeast of the 90 Foot Drop.
The 14 Buoy is a good starting point for trolling to the 90 Foot Drop. Start here and head towards the 90 Foot Drop. And on the way back in, start at the 90 and fish towards the 14. Dolphin are almost always in this area.
The wahoo have not been plentiful, but they will be around for the rest of the summer mixed in with the dolphin.
Small kings are plentiful and are being caught on dead cigar minnows.
Mike, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the fishing is starting to pick up. They have seen a larger variety of fish, including bluefish, a 6 lb. spanish, spots, sheepshead, a 1 lb. gray trout, and even a 6 lb. black drum.
There has been a crew of king fishermen on the end of the pier waiting for that elusive first king.
