Swansboro March 27, 2014
Frank Pope, of Jacksonville, NC, with an upper-slot red drum that he hooked while sight-casting a Zoom Fluke soft plastic. He was fishing a bay near Swansboro with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the area’s red drum action has been incredible lately. The large schools of fish have moved from the surf zone to the inshore marshes and bays, and anglers are finding schools of fish (most medium to upper-slot) feeding in the sound from Morehead City to the New River.
The schools that haven’t seen much angling pressure are biting a variety of artificials actively, with Zoom Flukes laden with Pro-Cure Super Gel some of the hottest baits. Fish that have been pursued heavily are a bit less eager to bite, but dead-sticking mud minnows, cut baits, or crab chunks on the bottom should tempt even the unwilling reds to strike. Sunny afternoons on warmer days are also generally producing a better bite.
The deeper creeks off Bogue Sound are holding some speckled trout, but they’re closed to harvest until June 15. Slot red drum are holding around docks and other structure in the same creeks and will bite shrimp, live mud minnows, or soft plastic baits.
Local anglers usually see sea mullet and gray trout pushing into Bogue Inlet in early April and can target both bottom feeders in deeper areas with some current over the month. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp or Fish Bites baits are tough for the grays and mullet to pass up.
Offshore, there’s still some solid black sea bass action around bottom structure in 80’ and deeper, where small vertical jigs and bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits will produce plenty of action.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking black sea bass, red porgy, grunts, and other tasty bottom dwellers at bottom structure in 80-100’+ of water. Some keeper sea bass have also been caught at spots closer to the beach in recent weeks. Bottom rigs and 2-4 oz. vertical jigs tipped with bait are the way to go for fast action with all the bottom dwellers.
Tim Rudder, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, with a 4 lb. speckled trout he caught and released in a Bogue Sound creek while casting a live mud minnow.
Wahoo should be looking for meals at local Gulf Stream spots whenever the current pushes warmer water against the break. Anglers can seek out active fish while trolling baitless high-speed lures, then set out ballyhoo spreads and troll slower when they key in on the bite.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are locating large schools of red drum in the marshes and bays around Swansboro (and most are quality mid to upper-slot fish). They’ve been feeding strong lately, and anglers are starting to hook a few on topwater plugs. Gulp and Zoom soft baits on leadhead jigs are producing results when the fish aren’t taking an interest in the topwaters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that some sea mullet, black drum, pufferfish, and big numbers of dogfish are feeding just of the beach at Emerald Isle, and pier anglers are starting to pick up a handful of all four fish while bottom fishing with shrimp. The bite will improve as the water warms up in the coming weeks.
Surf casters should see some sea mullet and puffers in April as well, with a few straggler puppy drum also looking for meals in the breakers.
The red drum bite inshore has been excellent lately, with anglers in boats finding and sight-casting to large schools of reds.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and will be moving out towards creek mouths in the coming weeks, but not many anglers have been fishing for them since the season is closed until June.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that pufferfish have produced the majority of the action recently, but anglers should also see sea mullet, some black drum, and other bottom feeders showing up once the water temperatures rise a bit.
