Swansboro – May 22, 2014
Harry Fisler with a 40 lb. dolphin that bit a ballyhoo under a red/black Blue Water Candy Mini Jag near the Swansboro Hole while he was fishing with David Cavanaugh.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that more and more flounder are showing up inshore around Bogue Inlet by the week. Many are still smaller, but there are keepers in the mix and the numbers and keeper ratio will only get better by the week. The fish are feeding in the marshes, bays, and mainland creeks, and they will pounce on live mud minnows and Gulps or other soft plastic baits.
The flounder action should also be heating up at bottom structure in the ocean, and anglers can likely find good numbers of the offshore flatfish around spots 10-15 miles out at present. They’ll continue moving towards the beachfront as the weeks go by. Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktails are the way to go for the flounder in the ocean.
Bottom fishing a bit further out in the 20-40 mile range is heating up as well, with gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, porgies, and more all taking an interest in anglers’ baits. Squid and cut baits are top choices for the smaller bottomfish, while whole cigar minnows, mackerel, and live baits will get attention from the grouper.
The gaffer dolphin bite is in full swing out in the blue water, where anglers are boxing up big numbers of ‘phins while trolling skirted ballyhoo. The best action was in 120-130’ of water last week, and the fish should be moving inshore a bit as spring fades into summer.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are making a strong appearance along the beachfront at Emerald Isle, where anglers can hook them by trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or casting metal jigs to schools of fish feeding on the surface.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes and bays inshore, and anglers can find them looking for meals around grass points, oyster rocks, and other irregularities in the shallows. They’ll often bite topwater plugs and Gulp or Zoom soft plastics, but anglers may have to use live or cut baits if the fish are finicky.
Morgan Smith with an upper-slot red drum that struck a topwater plug near Emerald Isle while she was fishing with Capt. Johnathan Garrett of On Point Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that cobia have shown up around Bogue Inlet, and it should only be the first wave of fish, with the action lasting a few more weeks as they continue migrating up from the south. Searching for cruising fish on the surface and casting bucktail jigs or live baits to them has been producing most of the action with the fish recently.
Spanish mackerel are also chasing bait nearshore, and casting metal jigs around working birds or fish feeding on the surface has been tempting plenty of bites from the spanish.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still hooking a few speckled trout in the creeks and bays inshore in the area. Soft plastics and live baits are fooling the specks.
The flounder action inshore is getting better and should continue to improve as the water temperatures climb. Live baits and Gulps are the best bets for the flatfish.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking some sea mullet, pompano, and large black drum while soaking shrimp and sand fleas along the surf zone. Some puppy drum have been falling for the same baits at night.
Plug casters are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Trolling Clarkspoons is producing plenty of action with the spanish and blues for boaters.
Anglers have been seeing some cobia off Bogue Inlet and hooking them while sight-casting bucktails and live baits. There haven’t been many menhaden schools in the area, and the cobia action should improve when the menhaden arrive in force.
Dolphin are beginning to move inshore of the Gulf Stream, and anglers reported some in the 20 mile range last week. Boats making the run to the Stream are finding more action with the gaffers along with some decent wahoo fishing.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing from the pier are hooking some black drum, puppy drum, sea mullet, pompano, and more on shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits.
Some flounder, spadefish, and a sheepshead have also come over the rails recently.
Plug casters are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.
And there are some larger chopper blues around to bite lures and king rigs.
The water is 69 degrees.
