Swansboro June 24, 2010
Jennifer Scott, from GA, and Capt. Bobby Bourquin, of Teezher Charters with a 75.3 lb. wahoo that fell for a live pogy 35 miles south of Bogue Inlet in 112' of water. Weighed in at Dudley's Marina.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum are feeding in the area’s smaller feeder creeks and throughout the marshes. Creekmouths and grass edges are excellent places to look for the reds, and they’ve been fairly willing to bite topwater plugs lately. When they won’t hit up top, Gulp baits and live finger mullet will temp the drum to bite.
The flounder bite’s been on in the marsh creekmouths and in the White Oak River and Queen’s Creek. Live finger mullet or other baits and white Gulp baits will attract attention from the flatties.
There are also still some flounder feeding on the nearshore reefs, where they’ll strike live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails. The fish aren’t as thick as they’ve been over the past month, though. Many are moving towards and into the inlets, where anglers can target them while drifting the deeper channels and fishing any nearby structure.
Sheepshead fishing is still solid around the area’s bridge and dock pilings. Dropping fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits tight to the pilings is the way to tempt bites from the sheeps.
The king and large spanish mackerel (to 6-7 lbs.) action is on fire just off the beaches and around nearshore structure. Small live pogies or other baits on light wire leaders are the way to fool the mackerel.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that anglers have caught gaffer dolphin as close as 4 miles offshore over the past week. Most of the fish that close are still peanuts, however, but there’s been consistent fishing for the larger ‘phins in the 15 mile range.
Along with the dolphin, anglers are catching some king and large spanish mackerel at bottom structure 5-15 miles out.
Live baits are the way to go for the dolphin and mackerel, and jig-baits like greenies and cigar minnows have been outproducing pogies lately.
Beth Reid, of Morehead City, with a 50 lb. cobia she hooked while sight-casting with pogies in Beaufort Inlet.
Big numbers of amberjacks and a few cobia are feeding around the same structure, and anglers managed to hook both on topwater plugs last week after drawing them to the surface by live-chumming. Live baits will also fool both fish when the topwater bite is slow.
Inshore, there’s been excellent fishing for big (to 8 lbs.) spanish mackerel right along the beaches. Small live pogies have been the most productive baits.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that nearshore structure off of Bogue Inlet is producing some excellent fishing for a wide variety of species right now.
King and big spanish mackerel (some to 5 lbs.) are feeding from the beaches on out to structure in the 10 mile range, and they’re falling for live baits fished on light wire leaders.
Bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails around bottom structure in the same range has been producing action with summer flounder, black sea bass, and other bottom dwellers.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the red drum bite is still solid inshore for anglers casting topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and Gulps, but anglers may have to do a decent bit of looking before they can find active fish.
Surf casters are picking up a decent number of reds around the point at Bogue Inlet while working gold Kastmasters.
Flounder fishing has been steady inshore and along the surf, both for anglers fishing live baits and Gulps on Easy Hooker stand-up jigheads. There are still some flounder at the nearshore reefs as well, where a Gulp-tipped bucktail will get their attention.
The large spanish mackerel bite is on along the beaches and at nearshore structure, and small live baits will attract attention from the big spaniards.
Anglers found decent king mackerel and dolphin fishing as close in as the Keypost and Station Rock last week, with most of the fish falling for live or dead cigar minnows.
Chris Klingenberger with a healthy gaffer dolphin caught by Pat Renfro on the "Big Dawg." The 'phin fell for a ceadr plug offshore of the NE Big Rock.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking decent numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel in the early mornings.
Fishing small live baits on the bottom has been producing action with some flounder.
Bottom fishing with shrimp is attracting attention from pigfish and spot.
