Swansboro March 31, 2011
James Wetter, of Kannapolis, NC, with a 30" red drum he caught and released on a mudflat near Swansboro. The red fell for a smelt Gulp jerkbait on a weighted worm hook while he was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the inshore water temperatures are holding steady in the mid-60’s on sunny days, and both bait and gamefish are becoming more active in the warming water.
Red drum are schooling in the backwaters between Emerald Isle and New River, and they seem to be feeding at virtually every flat and bay in the area. The fish are feeding on crabs. Many of the schools have seen some angling pressure, so one of the best strategies right now is to find a school of fish, then quietly stop the boat and soak quartered blue crabs or cut mullet on the bottom until the fish calm down and the scent becomes too much for them to handle.
More actively feeding schools of reds will take an interest in Gulp baits or live mud minnows.
The warming weather has led to an excellent redfish and speckled trout bite in the creeks off Queen’s Creek and the White Oak, New, and Neuse Rivers (where some stripers are mixed in). Shrimp imitations like Halo and Storm shrimp will fool the specks, while anglers can hook the reds and an occasional flounder on live mud minnows. Gulp baits and suspending MR17 MirrOlures should also get some attention.
Gray trout have moved inshore, and anglers are hooking decent numbers on spec rigs tipped with shrimp around the Emerald Isle Bridge.
False albacore are feeding off the beaches and moving closer to shore. On north and northeast winds, anglers should be able to slip out the inlet and find them feeding from the beach out to 8-10 miles off. Soft plastics or metal jigs will draw strikes from the albies.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the backwater red drum fishing has been excellent over the past few weeks. Anglers are finding schools of reds (most slot-sized with some larger) working the backwaters from Morehead City down to New River, and sight-casting Gulp baits to the schools to hook up.
The flounder that stayed inshore over the winter are starting to move into shallower water, and anglers are landing a few (some 16-18” keepers) while fishing for the reds.
Inshore water temperatures have climbed into the lower-60’s throughout the area, and anglers are finding some feeding bottomfish around the Swansboro waterfront. Sea mullet and small spot are making up most of the catch, and frozen shrimp or bloodworms on bottom rigs will fool both.
False albacore are moving towards the beaches, and anglers can likely find them within a mile of shore or the inlet tidelines on days with northerly winds. Small soft plastics on jigheads and metal lures will fool the albacore, and anglers may also be able to hook up on topwater plugs when they find schools feeding on the surface.
Joel Olson with a fat slot red drum that fell for a 4" Gulp pogy in the backwaters near Swansboro while he was fishing with Capt. Chris Sewell of Fishead Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier anglers are picking up some sea mullet, black drum, and pufferfish while bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits.
Inshore, schools of red drum are working the marshes and waiting for anglers who are willing to go looking for them. Gulp baits will fool the reds when anglers can find them.
Offshore, boats trolling the Gulf Stream are scoring action with wahoo and black and yellowfin tunas. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the offshore fish.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with some sea mullet, pufferfish, bluefish and a few small spot. Most of the action has been coming on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
The water temperature is 59 degrees, and the bite should only improve as it continues to climb.
