Swansboro May 25, 2006
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that there are plenty of small menhaden at the mouth of the creeks along Bogue Sound and White Oak River (along with some finger mullet that have come out of the creeks from their winter slumber). The shrimp are slowly beginning to show, and there should be good numbers by the first of June.
On the internal waters, there are good numbers of sheepshead showing up around ICW dock pylons, the bridges, and along the shelly bottoms in the inlet connecting channels. Fiddler crabs and sand fleas are the baits of choice for the average-size sheepshead (1 to 5 lbs.). If you’re only wanting to target the big fish over 5 lbs., try breaking the spines off a sea-urchin or upgrade to larger mud crabs that can be found in the shells on exposed oyster beds.
The southern flounder are biting well from upriver to the ICW, along with some summer flounder that have begun moving into the inlets and sounds in better numbers. If you can’t get live baits, try a 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz bucktail or jighead tipped with a Berkley gulp minnow or shrimp.
The puppy drum, are scattered all over the internal waters with good schools of 18-27” fish working the sound, the creeks, and the channels between the ICW and the inlets, as well as in the surf zone. There are also still fish in the 16-25” range being caught up the creeks off Queens Creek, Bear Creek, and White Oak River.
There are tons of bluefish around the internal waters, so expect to catch a few regardless of what you’re targeting. In the nearshore waters outside Bogue Inlet, there are great numbers of summer flounder along the live bottoms and artificial reefs. These fish are biting artificial baits as well as live baits.
Also beginning to show along the inlets, beaches, AR’s, and live bottoms are our spring/early summer run of cobia. Cobia love a free-lined live menhaden, live soft shell crab, or a strip of squid worked on a big bucktail.
And there are still some grey trout around the same bottoms that produce the summer flounder, seabass, and other bottom fish.
Stan, of Captain Stanman Charters, reports that offshore there are still yellowfins at the Deep Hole and the Yellowfin Hole. Wahoo are also still in the area, so be sure and have a wire trace on. The dolphin have showed up in large numbers and the larger ones are weighing up to the 30 pound class. Blue & white and pink & white on trolled ballyhoo rigs are popular colors for the dolphin.
The kings are within 20 miles of the beach in 15 fathoms. Look for rocks in this area, and expect the fish to be plentiful in the 12 lb. class. You don’t need live bait for these kings. Take along some frozen cigar minnows, put it on a Barefoot Getzit heads, and drop it down or slow troll. Yo-zuri Deep Divers, the 5 inch size in almost any color, will also catch the kings.
Spanish mackerel have finally arrived and can be caught along the beaches, the nearshore rocks, and artificial reefs. Troll the 3-inch Deep Divers at 6-7 mph, or when you locate the spanish throw your 8 lb. spinning tackle at them.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, reports that there has been better bottom fishing lately. Larger sea mullet are being caught in the evenings. Spots and drum are also around. Some pompano, gray trout, and bait-size bluefish are also being reported.
The first few Hatteras-sized bluefish were caught mid May, with 16 lbs. being the largest.
Spanish mackerel are showing up, and then they go away for few days. Most of the big blues and spanish are being caught on Gotcha plugs and live bait king rigs.
