Swansboro June 28, 2012
Zondrea Garden, of Sneads Ferry, and Lily and Mary Blackmon, of Naples FL, with 22, 12, and 6 lb. dolphin that bit light-lined cigar minnows while they were bottom fishing 48 miles off New River Inlet with Capt. Bill Hamner of Fish On Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the nearshore flounder bite off Bogue Inlet remains red hot. Anglers are hooking the flatfish (some to 5+ lbs.) at the AR’s and other structure within 10 miles of the inlet while bouncing 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits around the structure.
Good numbers of cobia have been in the same areas, and anglers are hooking a surprising number while bucktailing for flounder. Chumming and fishing with live menhaden will likely produce even more action with the cobia.
The big spanish mackerel (5+ lbs.) have shown up at much of the same structure, with the best action at spots a bit further off the beach recently. Some king mackerel are in the same areas, and both will attack live menhaden slow-trolled, drifted, or light-lined on the surface.
As if king and spanish mackerel, cobia, and fat flounders aren’t enough, some dolphin have been showing up at the wrecks and other structure 5-15 miles out, and bucktails or live menhaden will tempt them to bite as well.
Inshore, anglers are finding good numbers of red drum in the marshes and creeks just about anywhere there’s a decent amount of bait, but they’ve been a bit lethargic lately. Live finger mullet and shrimp are producing much better results with the reds than artificials right now.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the bridge and dock pilings in the area, where anglers can tempt them to bite live fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure.
Some black drum are in the same spots as the sheeps, and more are feeding around oyster rocks in the White Oak River. Fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs or under floats will tempt bites from the drum.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with red drum in the area, but the fish remain somewhat scattered. Most are feeding singly or in pairs in the marshes, with a few smaller schools of 15-20 fish around as well. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits will both tempt bites from the reds, but live baits on Carolina and float rigs are often even more effective.
Flounder fishing has been solid around the docks and other structure inshore (with solid numbers of 1-3 lb. fish). Live baits on Carolina rigs or Gulp baits on jigheads will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Some healthy (a few pushing 5+ lbs.) speckled trout are feeding in the marsh creeks on high falling tides, where they’ll pounce on a live shrimp fished under a float. The shrimp have been prevalent enough to gather by cast-net lately, although it involves some work.
Ben, Katie, and Jeff Matheson, of Jefferson, NC, with a red drum that bit a cut bait in the surf at Bear Island.
Sheepshead action has been good around the Swansboro bridges and along dock and bridge pilings in the ICW (with fish to 4 lbs.). Live fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure are producing results with the sheeps.
The nearshore flounder bite remains excellent, with limit catches most days. Jigging 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits is the way to connect with the flatfish.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding in many of the same areas as the flounder, and anglers can hook both mackerels on live menhaden.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf casters are hooking some sea mullet and pompano along the Emerald Isle surf. Shrimp and sand fleas are fooling both.
Some red drum and flounder are in the mix around the point. Live baits will tempt bites from both, and dead and cut baits are also productive for the reds.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking them from the pier while working Gotcha plugs and from boats on trolled Clarkspoons.
Larger spanish (4-5+ lbs.) are feeding at nearshore structure, where live menhaden will tempt them to bite.
Flounder and black sea bass are feeding in the same areas, and bucktail/Gulp combinations will fool both.
Cathy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that some sea mullet and spot are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Plug casters are hooking plenty of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
