Added on Thursday, June 19, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro June 19, 2008

Jeff, of FishN4 Life Charters, reports that structure within 5 miles of the beach is playing host to good fishing for spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, amberjacks, and a few dolphin.

Slow-trolled live baits will produce the best results on all these pelagic species. For the AJ’s and cobia, anglers should hook the baits on 6/0-7/0 circles in order not to pull or straighten the hook on these strong battlers. Wire leader and #4 trebles will work well on the kings and dolphin, and anglers should downsize to smaller 4-5″ baits and #6 trebles for the spanish,

Inshore, redfish are working along the ICW docks on the lower part of the tide and moving into the flooded bays on the higher part of the tide. The best baits for the reds around the marshes and docks are Gulp baits fished on very light jigheads, topwater baits, and spinnerbaits.

Bluefish (in all sizes from 1-10 lbs.) are feeding in the shallow bays around Bogue Sound as well as along the edges of the sand flats near the inlets on a rising tide. Topwater plugs should attract attention from the blues.

Plenty of flounder are feeding in the internal waters, but most are below the new 15.5″ legal minimum size north of Brown’s Inlet. The larger flatfish are feeding in the shallow bays and creeks. Carolina-rigged mud minnows or other live baits should appeal to the flounder.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the Swansboro area is full of bait right now. Anglers searching for bait can find usable-sized finger mullet and shrimp in the marshes and creeks and tiger minnows along the sand bars. The abundant bait has triggered some excellent early summer fishing, although unusually clear water right now means anglers should use light fluorocarbon leader for fish not traditionally considered leader-shy, like red drum, flounder, and sheepshead.

Anglers are finding red drum feeding along the bays and flats throughout the Swansboro area. The fishing has been especially good near Emerald Isle and up the White Oak River. Anglers can locate the reds by working an area quickly with topwater plugs or popping cork rigs with Gulps, and then slow down and cast Gulp baits on jigheads when they start getting bites.

There are a lot of flounder around, but most are undersized. Drifting the inlet or nearby deep marsh channels with live tiger minnows will produce plenty of strikes from the flatties.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also working bait in the inlet channels. Anglers who can find a tide line inside the inlet or a shoal with bait getting washed over it should have little trouble hooking up on Diamond jigs or Stingsilvers.

Sheepshead fishing has been excellent around bridge and dock pilings in the area, and there are a few black drum mixed in as well. Fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits fished close to the structure should get their attention.

Anglers are catching a few speckled trout in Queen’s Creek and the White Oak River on live shrimp, but nuisance pinfish are becoming abundant as the water warms.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that warm water temperatures have plenty of greenies schooled up at the Alphabet Buoys for anglers to jig up and use as baits. Live bait rigs with the greenies have been producing good numbers of dolphin and some kings around the D Buoy.

Bottom fishing has been good lately, with gag grouper reported at structure just 12 miles out. The AR’s are producing some sea bass.

Flounder are also feeding at the AR’s, but most seem to be undersized.

Along the beaches, boats spanish fishing are limiting out in several hours while trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows.

 

Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of red drum in the backwaters, and topwater plugs are drawing plenty of bites.

Anglers are catching sheepshead around the Swansboro and Emerald Isle bridges.

Boats and surf casters are catching some flounder in the inlet, with the best action on live mullet and mud minnows.

There are still plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish in the surf. Kastmasters and Stingsilvers are getting their attention.

Boats are hooking some dolphin and decent numbers of kings while trolling cigar minnows at the Keypost.

 

Ernie, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Bottom fishermen are landing some spot on shrimp.

The water is 79 degrees.