Swansboro – June 26, 2014
David Ledford, from KY, with a 30″ red drum he caught and released near Bear Island after it inhaled a chunk of menhaden. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of action with red drum in the bays and backwaters behind the barrier islands and around oyster rocks in the creeks and rivers. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits are tempting bites from the reds.
There’s also still some solid speckled trout action around oyster rocks and other structure in the White Oak River, where anglers are hooking the fish on live shrimp and soft plastic jerkbaits.
Flounder fishing continues to improve inshore, and anglers are connecting with some solid flatfish while casting live peanut menhaden around ICW docks.
Large spanish mackerel are still feeding around nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet, especially early in the day. Live peanut menhaden pinned to scaled-down king mackerel rigs are fooling the big spaniards.
Anglers are also seeing some king mackerel mixed with the spanish and falling for the live baits.
Dolphin have moved well inshore of the Gulf Stream, and anglers are hooking them on live and dead baits within 15 miles of the inlet.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some large spanish mackerel and a few kings around structure within 10 miles of Bogue Inlet. Live menhaden on light wire rigs are the way to go for the big spaniards.
Mark Christopher with a bull dolphin that bit a live menhaden in the prop wash while he was trolling in 75′ of water off Emerald Isle with Capt. Chesson O’Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
Bouncing bucktail jigs off the bottom around structure in the 50’ range has been producing some keeper flounder and black sea bass recently.
Dolphin have pushed inshore to the 15 mile area, where anglers hooked several on live baits and rigged ballyhoo last week.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing some larger flounder inshore around docks and other structure. Live baits and Gulps will both fool the flatfish.
The flatfish bite has also been decent at the AR’s and other structure within a few miles of the beachfront, where anglers are hooking up on bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Some large spanish mackerel have been feeding around the Keypost and other nearshore structure in the area. Fishing live menhaden early in the morning is the way to put the big spaniards in the boat.
A few cobia are still looking for meals around nearshore structure, and they’ll pounce on a live menhaden as well.
Dolphin have pushed inshore to the Hutton and Southeast Bottoms, where anglers are hooking them on live and dead baits.
Surf casters are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and pompano while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas. Some slot and over-slot red drum are mixed in in the evening hours.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers working Gotcha plugs from the pier are connecting with spanish mackerel (some to 3-4 lbs.) and bluefish.
Live-baiters fishing from the end of the pier have seen action with cobia and some large bluefish in recent days.
Bottom fishermen are picking up some spot, sea mullet, and a few pompano, primarily on shrimp.
