Swansboro June 25, 2009
Matt and Chris Jackson, of High Point, NC, with a pair of red drum they hooked and released on float-rigged mud minnows in the backwaters near Swansboro. They were fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum are feeding in the area’s marshes and will pounce on a float-rigged live shrimp, mud minnow, or a Gulp bait.
Anglers are picking up 1-2 flounder per day while fishing for the reds (with most running just legal to 20”).
More flounder are feeding in the inlet channels and at docks in the ICW, and Carolina-rigged mud minnows or finger mullet will tempt them to bite, as will Gulp baits.
Oyster rocks in the White Oak River are producing action with flounder, reds, black drum, speckled trout, and other species. Live shrimp fished under floats are producing the lion’s share of the action.
The sheepshead bite has been excellent lately, and anglers are landing good numbers while fishing live shrimp, dead shrimp, and fiddler crabs around bridge and dock pilings and oyster rocks in the area.
Trolling along the beaches for spanish mackerel has also been solid, and anglers are catching good numbers on trolled Clarkspoons. Larger fish are feeding around the nearshore reefs and live bottoms, and anglers can hook them on small live baits.
King mackerel (from schoolies to 20 pounders) are moving into the nearshore areas as well, and they are especially prevalent in the 10-15 mile range at spots like the Hutton and Jerry’s Reef.
Patrick Jones with a couple of wahoo caught at the Swansboro Hole. He was fishing with his father, Dennis Jones, aboard the "Sea Gypsy" with Capt. Danny Herko.
Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that the nearshore dolphin bite has been excellent out of Bogue Inlet lately. Anglers are catching big numbers of ‘phins (most 5-15 lbs.) as close as one mile off the beaches, with better action at spots in the 4-10 mile range. Live baits like pogies or threadfins will tempt the dolphin and king mackerel, amberjack, and a few cobia feeding in the same areas.
Larger spanish mackerel (3-5+ lbs.) are feeding at the nearshore live bottoms and falling for smaller live baits. Smaller spaniards are chasing bait in the surf and falling for trolled spoons.
Nearshore live bottoms and AR’s are producing action with summer flounder (2-4+ lbs.), sea bass, and an occasional grouper. Bucktails tipped with Gulp belly strips are drawing bites from all three.
In the backwaters, anglers are finding action with red drum around marsh grass edges at higher tides. Topwater plugs are drawing some bites from the reds, and anglers are hooking even more on jigheads with Gulps and the new Powerbait Ripple Shads.
Flounder are feeding in the slough and creek mouths along with boat docks on the ICW. Small live baits or Gulp shrimp will produce action with the flatties.
Sheepshead are feeding on the area’s grassflats and oyster beds and bridge pilings. Fiddler crabs will draw strikes from the sheeps.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the king mackerel bite has been solid as near as five miles from the beaches. Anglers are hooking the kings on live pogies and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Around the E Buoy, the kings are feeding along with some large barracuda.
A few dolphin are still mixed in, but the dolphin bite has slowed somewhat over the past week.
Bottom fishing a bit further offshore produced some gag grouper over the past week.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that small king mackerel are feeding around the Charlie and Delta buoys, and the buoys are also holding plenty of jig baits for anglers to use. Good numbers of sailfish have been seen and caught in the same area, so it should be a good year for the sails.
Dolphin fishing’s been excellent lately, and anglers are finding the largest fish (in the 20’s with some 30-40 pounders mixed in) around the break in 30-50 fathoms. Smaller fish (though many are still 10-20 lb. gaffers) are feeding inshore at spots like the 210/240 Rocks, Honey Hole, C and D buoys, and Jerry’s Reef. Trolling live baits, small ballyhoo, or cigar minnows will produce action with the dolphin. Fishing before and after the full and new moons will produce the best dolphin bite, and south and southeast winds tend to really turn the fish on.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of dolphin and king mackerel 5-10 miles off the beaches. Ballyhoo underneath sea witches are producing most of the action.
Spanish mackerel (up to 7 lbs.) and a few kings and cobia are feeding closer to the beaches, and live baits like pogies are ideal for these fish.
Surf anglers are hooking up with some bluefish, pompano, whiting, and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
In the sound, anglers are still finding plenty of action with red drum on topwater plugs and Gulp baits.
Patty, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel in the mornings on Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs.
The spot bite’s been good, and natural and Fish Bites bloodworms are tops for the spots. Pompano and whiting are feeding near the pier, too, and anglers are hooking them on shrimp.
Anglers are catching some keeper flounder on live shrimp.
Live baiters landed four king mackerel last week, with the largest going 28.5 lbs.
