Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro June 5, 2008

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent lately in 20-25′ of water just off the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons is producing fast action with the spaniards.

Larger spanish are feeding around the mouth of the inlet and at the nearshore AR’s early in the mornings. Fishing live finger mullet or peanut pogies on small hooks and light wire leaders will produce results with the larger spanish.

Bluefish (most in the 1-3 lb. range) are hanging around the inlet and nearby channels as well. Live baits and plugs are attracting plenty of attention from the smaller blues. The larger choppers have worked their way into the backwaters, and they are feeding in deeper channels and on the flats.

Sheepshead fishing has been taking off over the past few weeks, with anglers picking up good numbers of fish up to 4-5 lbs. Live shrimp or fiddler crabs dangled next to the docks and bridge abutments where the sheepshead live will get them to strike. A shorter leader (10-12″) than anglers use on flounder rigs will keep the baits closer to the structure and improve anglers’ feel for the strikes.

Some flounder are holding along the docks of the ICW, and this is an excellent time to go drifting for flatfish in the inlet and nearby channels. Live finger mullet, tiger minnows, and shrimp will get attention from the flounder. Anglers can fish live shrimp right now in areas where it would be impossible in the summer and fall, as the pinfish, small sea bass, and other bait thieves aren’t around in full force yet.

Red drum are feeding in their usual haunts on the flats and backwaters behind the barrier islands. Live baits will produce plenty of strikes from the reds, and they’ve also been quite willing to strike topwater plugs lately.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that anglers are finding fast action with spanish mackerel on the east side of Bogue Inlet, with many boats landing limits in short order. Trolled Clarkspoons or Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows will produce plenty of action with the spanish. There are some bluefish (in the 2 lb. range) mixed in, and the same lures should strike their fancy as well.

Smaller king mackerel are making a showing as well, and the action has been solid around Christmas Rock and the D Buoy lately. Most of the fish are 5-7 lbs., but they’ve been making up for small size with big numbers. Some live cigar minnows have been showing up in the same areas, and they are prime baits, but anglers are also hooking up while dragging dead cigars behind green and chartreuse Pirate Plugs.

Summer flounder (with some up to 4 lbs.) are making a strong appearance on the live bottoms near Bogue Inlet. Anglers looking for flounder should try jigging a 2 oz. Spro bucktail tipped with a Gulp shrimp vertically over the structure.

Boats are finding some gag grouper on live bottoms as close as 15 miles from Bogue Inlet. Live cigar minnows have been producing the best action.

Further offshore, boats are hooking up with big gaffer dolphin and some wahoo around the Naeco and Cripple Rock.

 

Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that pier anglers have landed a number of cobia and kings recently.

Hatteras bluefish are still feeding along the beaches, and surf anglers are hooking up with them on cut baits and casting lures.

Surf and pier anglers have also been hooking some fat pompano and black drum on sand fleas.

The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent along the beaches when the wind isn’t blowing too hard and dirtying the water. Boats are catching big numbers of the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons.

The nets behind Bear Island have been moved, and the red drum bite is again good in the area. Anglers are hooking up with the drum on MirrOlure Top Dogs and Gulp Jerkshads on 1/8 oz. leadheads.

Boats are finding some king mackerel around AR-342 and AR-345.

The dolphin bite has been good as close as 18 miles offshore, and boats are catching some wahoo around 50 miles out. Blue/white skirted lures paired with ballyhoo should tempt the wahoo to bite.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that the dolphin have shown up in earnest, and they should be here for the rest of the summer. The Rocks south of 13 is a good place to begin searching for the ‘phins, and they’ll respond to trolled Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Magnums or natural baits.

Bottom fishing has been solid at ledges within 25 miles of Bogue Inlet, where anglers are hooking good numbers of grouper and some big pinkies.

Good numbers of snake king mackerel are feeding around structure from the beaches on out.

Spanish mackerel are also around in full force (some up to 4 lbs.), and good catches have come from boats trolling small, gold Clarkspoons around the sea buoy recently.

Cobia have shown up, and fish over 90 lbs. have already been landed near Cape Lookout. The best strategy for the cobia is fishing live menhaden near the deep holes of Barden’s Inlet under balloons on slack tides. When the current’s running, anglers can chum and fish live and dead baits on fish finder rigs.

 

Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports the several kings (up to 32 lbs.) and cobia (up to 58 lbs.) were landed over the past week. Live bluefish fished on king rigs were drawing bites from both species.

Plug casters are hooking good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.

On the bottom, anglers are catching some pompano, puppy drum, and black drum. Shrimp are getting their attention.

The water is 74 degrees.