Added on Thursday, March 12, 2009  Fish Post

Swansboro March 12, 2009

Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the recent 70 to 80 degree warming trend has brought the water temperatures up almost 10 degrees in the backwaters around Swansboro. The temperature change has triggered the redfish, trout, and black drum to begin feeding hard.

Recent trips along the surf and the shallow flats have provided the opportunity to sight cast to large schools of redfish (in the 20-30″ range). Anglers can expect to find even more of these schools as we progress through March and into April.

The best baits will include scented soft baits fished on extremely light jigheads and weightless soft jerkbaits when targeting fish in the flooded grass or on large shallow grass flats. The fishing activity will really pick up when the water temperatures reach the 60 degree mark.

Anglers should be able to move up the local rivers and into the larger creeks to locate speckled trout this month as well. These trout will range from spikes around 14″ or less to citation fish over 5 lbs. A variety of lures will produce action with the specks, including 3-4″ Gulp pogies and shrimp, Storm and Billy Bay shrimp imitations, Tsunami Corkies, and hard baits like MR 17 Mirrolures and Rapala X-Raps.

False albacore should begin making an appearance nearshore in the Swansboro area soon on nearshore AR’s and other structure. Casting double spec rigs and small metal jigs and spoons will produce strikes from the albacore, but they’ll also take an interest in smaller 3-4″ topwater plugs.

Bottom fishing at the nearshore AR’s and live bottoms should be productive for sea bass, tautog, ringtails, and other bottomfish.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the warming weather is beginning to push red drum, speckled trout, and flounder out of the rivers and creeks and into the marshes. Some of the reds that have been schooled up along the beaches all summer will be making their way into the marshes as well.

The presence of bait and warmer water will be the two factors influencing fish this month, and anglers who can find water slightly warmer than the average inshore temperature (along with some bait) should find the fish.

The clear water over the next month should produce plenty of sight casting opportunities for the reds on the flats. The best areas will be dark bottom flats that warm the surrounding water a few degrees and trigger the fish to feed. Scented soft baits are excellent lures to use for the reds, and they’ll also take a keen interest in live mud minnows. As the water warms up, the topwater bite will improve as well.

Anglers searching for speckled trout will do well to concentrate on the larger river and creek systems like the White Oak, Newport, and New Rivers, as well as Queen’s Creek. Scented soft baits will produce action with the trout, too.

As the ICW warms up to 56-60 degrees, gray trout and whiting will be feeding in the deeper holes near the Swansboro waterfront and the channel to Bogue Inlet. A spec rig tipped with shrimp or Fish Bites will tempt these tasty bottomfish to bite.

Black drum and undersized flounder will also make an appearance in the inlet channels over the coming weeks.

False albacore are feeding 8-9 miles offshore already, and they should move onto the nearshore wrecks and reefs soon. Chopper bluefish should also be quick to arrive as the water warms a bit.

 

Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the warmer water is pretty far offshore right now, but blue water trollers are picking up some blackfin tuna and wahoo in the cooler water inshore of the Stream (mid to high 60’s). A few yellowfin tuna have been reported recently as well.

Some deep jigging out in around 200′ of water produced action with scamp grouper and almaco jacks over the past weeks.

In closer, amberjacks are stacked up around the Naeco wreck and structure nearby, and they will pounce on a vertical jig as well.

When the water rises up to the 60 degree mark in the area, anglers can expect some of the year’s best sea bass fishing at structure 20-26 miles offshore like the Hutton ledges, AR 345, and Christmas Rock. Squid on bottom rigs or jigs will both get attention from the bass.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that red snapper fishing should be good at structure on the east side of Cape Lookout, but the weather hasn’t let many boats get out to look for them.

Yellowfin tuna have begun their migration through the area, and anglers are hooking some on rigged ballyhoo and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers around the southwest side of the Big Rock. Some wahoo have also been in the area.

Some warmer 60 degree water has made it to an area 23 miles off Bogue Inlet, which should improve the bottom fishing at structure in the area. Anglers dropping baits and jigs to the bottom in the warmer water will find action with grouper, snapper, triggerfish, and big knothead sea bass.

Some kings may well be in the area, too, so anglers should keep out a balloon rig while bottom fishing to intercept the mackerel.

 

Dale of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching red drum in the surf off Bear Island, both while casting from the shore and from boats on the backside of the breakers. Cut bait or baits like Gulps will get their attention.

There are also some reds feeding in the marshes behind Bear Island, and anglers can hook them on Gulps or topwater plugs.