Swansboro – May 12, 2016
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are connecting with black drum, red drum, sea mullet, and blow toads. Double drop bottom rigs baited with shrimp will fool all four species in the surf zone, and anglers looking to connect with any of them should focus their efforts towards the inlets and large sandbars as the majority of the fish are holding in small areas instead of being spread out down the beach.
Red drum fishing has been excellent recently with small schools of 5-15 fish being found all throughout the areas marshes and bays. The Emerald Isle side of Bogue Sound is holding large amounts of fish in the marshes between the bridge and the inlet. Casting topwater plugs to feeding fish will provide plenty of action for anglers looking to hook up with a redfish.
There have also been good numbers of small flounder and keeper-sized trout mixed in with the reds.
Offshore, anglers are still finding consistent action with wahoo and blackfin tuna, but mahi has been making up the majority of blue water anglers’ catches. Boone’s Turbo Hammer lures and other offshore lures trolled with ballyhoo will fool all three species.
Bob Sanders, linebacker coach for the Arizona Cardinals, and Wayne Mobley with a pair of reds they caught while fishing with Capt. Dale Collings of Fish or Die Charters. The fish fell for a 4 Gulp white shrimp and a 5 Zoom Super Fluke in golden bream.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with false albacore, bonito, and bluefish just off the beaches and at nearshore reefs such as AR-342 and Keypost Rocks. Spanish mackerel have also been reported in large numbers in the same areas. All four species can be fooled by trolling #0-#00 Clarkspoons behind a #1 planer or a 2-3 oz. trolling weight. Color does not seem to matter to the spaniards or bluefish, but the bonito are mostly being taken on pink and green flash Clarkspoons.
With large bait balls of menhaden being spotted recently, it won’t be long before cobia start to make their nearshore appearance. Anglers looking to target them need to stay on the move searching for the cruising fish near schools of bait and floating structure such as debris or buoys. Casting a 2 oz. bucktail baited with a white or chartreuse 8” curly tail grub underneath a bait ball is the easiest way to fool any cobia that might be swimming under the school.
Inshore, the red drum bite remains fantastic with the fish becoming more aggressive as the water warms and more bait moves into area marshes. Bays and marshes behind the barriers islands are producing the majority of the fish, but there are still plenty being caught in mainland creeks, especially near docks and bridges. The topwater bite has been very consistent lately, but finicky fish can be fooled with cut baits such as mullet or chunks of crab.
The flounder fishing has improved recently with more fish being caught inshore. Areas close to the inlet, like the Coast Guard channel, have been holding good numbers of flounder lately, but anglers will have to contest with bluefish stealing their baits. Live mud minnows, mullet, or shrimp fished on a Carolina rig will fool the bottom dweller.
Joel West with a 25 red drum that he caught while fishing behind Emerald Isle with Capt. Jonathan Garrett of On Point Fishing Charters. The red fell for a Zoom Super Fluke covered in Pro-Cure bait scent.
Jonathan, of OnPoint Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore bottom fishing has been excellent recently. Nearshore structure like AR-340 and 45-Minute Rock are producing some keeper black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, and amberjacks. There have been large flounder and over-slot red drum caught in the same areas. Using 1-2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp shrimp or squid will fool most any bottomfish.
Closer to shore, anglers are catching some large spanish mackerel trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, especially the holograph pink color in size 3-1/2” and 4-3/8”. Tidelines formed by a falling tide have been producing the best action when anglers troll just outside of the break. Mixed in with the spanish are plenty of 2-3 lb. bluefish and some larger false albacore. Anglers can also cast metal jigs like Big Nic Spanish Candy Jigs to fish that are feeding on the surface.
Inshore, anglers are still catching some speckled trout in mainland creeks and marshes. With warming water, the temperature sensitive specks are more difficult to catch, but persistent anglers can still put some fish in the boat. On cool mornings trout can often be found feeding in shallow water close to marsh grass where anglers can target them using topwater lures, like the Yo-Zuri Sashimi 3D Pencil. As the sun rises and the water warms, the trout will move to deeper holes where they can be tempted with a live shrimp or mud minnow fished under a popping cork.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports there has been a great dolphin bite for anglers running out to the break. Spots as close as the WR2 and the High/Low Step have been holding good numbers of mahi, but more consistent action is coming from deeper water anywhere from 120-200’ of water. Trolling lures like the Fathom Mini Soft Heads with or without ballyhoo is sure to fool the ‘phins, but anglers should also keep a pitch bait handy for curious fish that get within casting range.
Mixed in with the mahi are plenty of wahoo and blackfin tuna, and all three can be caught trolling naked or skirted ballyhoo.
Offshore bottom fishing continues to improve with plenty of action in 80-120’ of water. Anglers are targeting the bottom feeders using bottom rigs such as Blue Water Candy Roscoe Jigs or simple fish finder rigs. Alongside the grouper are black sea bass, beeliners, and triggerfish.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching sea mullet, gray trout, sheepshead, pompano, and even a couple of puppy drum. Shrimp on a double drop bottom rig has produced the majority of the action.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been caught by anglers working Gotcha plugs.
The water is 61 degrees.
