Swansboro – March 23, 2017
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers hitting the beach are connecting with pufferfish, bluefish, and some small black drum. Shrimp on bottom rigs is the way to go when throwing in the suds, and persistent anglers will connect with a few keeper black drum and the normal, smaller-sized bluefish.
Those hitting the backwater will find speckled trout, as well as few red drum that are moving back into the area. Zoom baits and MirrOlures will help to connect with the trout, but those who are lucky enough to find live bait may see better results.
The same baits should work on the drum as well, measuring in-slot to over-slot, although cut mullet will also tempt bites.
Mark Turner, Rock Forbes, and Phil Hochreiter with a triple hook-up of redfish, all falling for Gulp shad. They were fishing out of Swansboro with Capt. Johnathan Garrett of On Point Charters.
Matt, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that the trout bite is still going strong in the creeks, near the deep holes and around the flatter areas at the mouth of the creeks. MirrOlure MR17s and other small, suspending hard baits should connect with the fish.
Redfish are schooled up all over the region. Schools can consist of a variety of sizes of fish, from under-slot to over. Jerk shads from Z-Man and Zoom are doing the trick to hook the fish, and using Pro-Cure (blue crab flavor) with the artificials is essential.
Black drum can be found in the deep creeks and holes in the marsh, and throwing bait shrimp on Carolina or bottom rigs is working best.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that sight fishing for reds on the flats has been very successful for anglers. Throw Gulp jerk baits and shrimp to connect with the fish. The reds are mid- to upper-slot sizes, with a few over-slot.
There are some trout around, and the trout should get better as the waters warm back up following the cold snap. MirrOlure MR17s and Gulp jerk shads should prove successful when targeting the specks.
Black drum are in the creeks and can be tempted to bite bait shrimp on the bottom using Carolina rigs.
Those venturing offshore are finding a good sea bass bite in the 10 mile range.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that there’s a decent black sea bass bite in the 10-15 mile range for those dropping down, and even closer on occasion.
False albacore have started showing up off the beach, and surf anglers are finding some action with bluefish in the surf.
Offshore about 25 miles (out in 135’ of water), there has been decent bottom fishing, with anglers reporting triggerfish and beeliners.
Those heading to the Gulf Stream around Big Rock have reported wahoo, blackfin, as well as the first mahi of the year.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the pier house is in limited operations, but it’s open to anglers now. The few out on the planks dropping bottom rigs have reported sea mullet, pufferfish, bluefish, and the occasional black drum.
