Swansboro June 6, 2013
Jay, Stephanie, and Kaitlyn Jackson, of South Boston, VA, with 20 and 40 lb. cobia that fell for Spro bucktails near a menhaden pod in 40′ of water off Bogue Inlet. They were fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with cobia in 30-40’ of water off Bogue Inlet. They’re sight-casting to cruising fish and working menhaden pods with bucktail jigs and live baits to hook up.
Amberjacks are schooled up at high-relief structure in 60’ and deeper. They’re eagerly biting live menhaden, and chumming with the menhaden often gets them worked up enough to eat topwater plugs and flies as well.
Spanish mackerel are starting to show up along the beachfront, but they’re still scattered and the bite isn’t fully on yet.
Like the spanish, anglers are hooking some flounder while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails at nearshore structure in the ocean, but they have not shown up in full force yet this year.
Inshore, the red drum are scattered throughout the marshes and have been receptive to topwater plugs on many recent warm days. When they’re reluctant to bite the topwaters, live mud minnows and finger mullet are tough for the reds to turn down.
Flounder, sheepshead, and black drum are all feeding around oyster rocks in the marshes and creeks. The flatfish will bite Gulps or small live baits, and anglers can tempt the drum and sheeps to strike fiddler crabs or live shrimp.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that the cobia action is still going strong off Bogue Inlet (with many fish 30-60 lbs.). They’re feeding from the beachfront out to 50-60’ of water, and have been taking 2 oz. Blue Water Candy bucktails and 14” Hogy lures readily over the past week.
Black sea bass are feeding at bottom structure from the beaches to offshore (with larger fish further off). Targeting structure in 75’ last week produced excellent catches of sea bass along with gag grouper (to 20 lbs.). The bass will bite virtually any bait they can get in their mouths, and live bait like pinfish will help anglers weed through the bass and hook up with the grouper.
Inshore, there’s been a good topwater red drum bite in the marshes behind Bear Island (with most fish upper/over-slot). Anglers are also connecting with the reds on Gulp baits.
Victoria King with a citation 5 lb. pompano that bit cut shrimp off Bogue Inlet Pier.
Flounder fishing is turning on inshore around docks and other structure off the ICW. Gulp Jerk Shads in white have been highly productive on the flatfish recently.
Sheepshead are showing up around the bridges and other inshore structure in the area (most 1-3 lbs. but a few to 5+ lbs.). Anglers are hooking the sheeps while dangling fiddler crabs tight to the pilings.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that anglers are still catching big numbers of dolphin while trolling around offshore weedlines in the Gulf Stream. Some wahoo are mixed in, and both are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Cobia are still cruising along the beachfront and following menhaden pods within a few miles of shore. Anglers can hook the cobes on sight-cast bucktail jigs or live menhaden.
Spanish mackerel action is in full swing along the beachfront, where casting Stingsilvers to schools of fish feeding on the surface was highly effective last week.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with black sea bass at bottom structure from the 40’ depths on out. The bass will take an interest in small jigging lures or squid and cut baits on bottom rigs.
Josh, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching big numbers of cobia off Bogue and Beaufort Inlets, primarily while sight-casting to cruising fish and bait balls.
Jigging Gulp-tipped bucktails at nearshore structure for flounder is turning on, with anglers reporting some decent catches last week.
Offshore trollers are still reporting excellent dolphin fishing in the blue water with a few wahoo thrown in.
Spanish mackerel are just making their summer appearance, and many are undersized right now.
Inshore, casting Gulp baits in the marshes and around ICW structure is attracting attention from some red drum and flounder.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking sea mullet, spot, croaker, pompano, and more on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
The water’s been dirtied by the rainfall early this week, but plug casters were catching solid numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel until it got muddy. The bite should be right back on track once the water clears.
