Swansboro June 21, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that there has been a hot king and spanish mackerel bite taking place. Good numbers of kings (up to 15 lbs.) were caught within three miles of the beach, with some nice fish coming from 45 Minute Rock and the Southeast Bottoms.
Live baits are producing much better results on the kings than dead baits and spoons right now.
Boats have been observing spanish mackerel attacking bait on the surface in the mid day to afternoon hours. Trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will get plenty of spanish bites, but anglers wanting to fish with lighter tackle can cast ¼ oz. gold spec rigs to surfacing spanish.
Cobia are still roaming the nearshore waters.
The ocean flounder bite is a little slow for this time of year. Jigging Gulp-tipped bucktails around the nearshore reefs, wrecks, and live bottoms is the best technique right now for putting flounder in the boat. Triggerfish, tautog, and sea bass are holding on the same structure as the flounder, giving bottom fishermen a variety of fish to catch.
Red drum fishing has been excellent in the surf and in the backwaters. The fish have been running up to 30”, and topwater plugs and spinnerbaits are getting most of the drum bites.
Inshore flounder fishing is somewhat slow. Most of the fish that anglers are catching are smaller, from under 14” to a few pounds. Summer flounder should continue to migrate into the inlets and backwaters as summer progresses, so the fishing should get better. Carolina-rigged live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will get the attention of any flounder that are around.
The sheepshead bite has been strong. Live fiddler crabs fished next to bridge and dock pilings are accounting for most of the sheepshead, which are running ½-5 lbs. Some larger sheepshead are roaming the grass flats in the sound, and they can be targeted with live shrimp underneath slip floats.
Black drum are feeding in the surf and the backwaters, and anglers are catching 1-5 lb. drum on live or fresh shrimp and Gulp baits. Inshore, the drum are holding near oyster rocks and in deep holes in the creeks.
Large “Hatteras” bluefish have been reported in and around Bogue Inlet, and boats are hooking up with the big blues on topwater lures and by trolling shallow and deep diving baits. Smaller bluefish are feeding in the inlet connecting channels and feeder channels behind Emerald Isle and Bear Island.
Plenty of menhaden in a variety of sizes are in the bays and creeks off the ICW, White Oak River, and Bogue Sound. Shrimp from 40-70 count are in the creeks, too. Most of the mullet in the area are still too small for baits, but anglers can catch tiger side minnows on the inlet shoals with a cast net. Fiddler crabs are roaming the mud and sand flats during the latter part of the falling tide.
Folden, of Still Outnumbered Charters, reports that big dolphin and wahoo are feeding strong in 130’ of water and deeper. Ballyhoo dragged underneath blue/white, pink/white, and lime green Sea Witches have been the hot lure lately.
Anglers should troll at 8-10 knots to locate fish, and then work the area hard after getting a few bites.
King mackerel are holding 5-20 miles from the beach. Anglers can catch good numbers of kings trolling dead cigar minnows, but larger fish are more willing to hit live baits.
Grouper are moving inshore, and they’ll be holding in the same spots all summer. Dead cigar minnows on bottom rigs will fool the groupers. A weightless “light line” fished on the surface while bottom fishing should attract the attention of any kings, dolphin, or cobia that swim by.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with whiting on cut shrimp.
Sheepshead are holding beneath the pier, and anglers can score sheepshead bites by dangling sand fleas beside the pilings.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs are decking bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Live baiters have enjoyed plenty of action over the week catching king mackerel and barracuda. Last week’s largest king was 32 lbs.
The water temperature is 77 degrees.
