Swansboro May 24, 2012
Jared Fiebig, from parts unknown, with a 12 lb. red drum that bit a chunk of blue crab on a shallow flat near Swansboro while he was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum bite has slowed down a bit, as the larger schools are on the move and breaking up into smaller groups of fish. Anglers are still able to catch some decent numbers of fish, but it takes more searching than it did earlier in the spring.
Calmer, overcast days are producing a good topwater bite with the reds, and casting Gulp baits on weedless hooks or chunks of crab or cut bait on Carolina rigs is producing action when the fish are a bit more reluctant to bite. Lower tides have also produced more consistent action with the reds lately.
Flounder are feeding under docks and around other structure inshore. Live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails are the best bets for the flatfish. The flounder bite is also on at the live bottoms, wrecks, and other nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet, and larger bucktails paired with Gulp baits will produce flatfish action in the ocean. There are still plenty of sea bass in the same areas. They’re slowly moving offshore as the water warms, so they should be less of a nuisance to flounder anglers than they have been so far this year.
Sheepshead are moving into the area, and anglers can hook up with the tasty fish by dangling fiddler crabs near dock and bridge pilings inshore.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Bogue Inlet and within a few miles of the beaches. The strong North winds slowed the spanish bite last week, but they are still around and should be feeding when the weather calms. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal jigs to feeding schools of fish will provide plenty of action with the spaniards and blues.
Cobia and bait have been scarce off Bogue Inlet, but anglers lucky enough to find bait balls working off the beach have managed to hook a few on bucktails.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that red drum are the biggest thing going right now, and anglers are hooking solid numbers of reds in the bays and backwaters behind local barrier islands. The larger spring and winter schools are breaking up as more bait moves into the area, but the fish are hungry and taking a strong interest in topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live baits for those who don’t want to cast artificials.
Chelsea Brown, of Marshallberg, NC, with her first dolphin, hooked on a ballyhoo under a pink/white sea witch in 140' of water off Cape Lookout while she was fishing with Dustin Waters and Windsor Barringer on the "Daddy's Pony."
Inshore flounder fishing has slowed a bit recently, but anglers are still catching some around docks and other inshore structure on Gulps and small live baits. The bite should also be on at nearshore structure in the ocean, but the weather has kept many people from trying the nearshore bite lately.
Anglers trolling spoons and casting metal jigs around Bogue Inlet and along the beachfront have been catching some spanish mackerel (many 16-18”), and the larger spanish should be showing up in the next few weeks. Small live baits tend to be more effective on the bigger mackerel.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching a few cobia on dead baits fished on the bottom, but the cobia bite’s been somewhat slow as most of the fish still seem to be offshore. When more bait moves into the beaches, the cobia should be right behind.
Anglers working metal lures from the piers are catching good numbers of bluefish (still including some big choppers).
Sea mullet and pompano (some 2-3 lbs.) are rewarding anglers fishing shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs in the surf and from the pier.
The wahoo and dolphin bite is still solid around the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock when boats can make the long run offshore. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are the way to go for the dolphin and ‘hoos.
Inshore, there’s been a decent red drum and flounder bite in the marshes and around structure. Both will bite Gulps or small live baits.
Cathy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers landed several chopper bluefish last week (9-11 lbs.) on both bottom rigs and live baits on king rigs.
Smaller bluefish and some spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
Sheepshead are showing up around the pilings, and anglers are hooking a few while dangling sand fleas near the structure.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, pompano, pigfish, and more while baiting up with shrimp.
