Swansboro – May 25, 2017
James, of Reel Outdoors, reports that flounder have been moving in over the past week. Most anglers have been connecting with them on Gulp baits. Topwater plugs (as well as Gulp baits) have been working when searching for the specks and reds.
Whiting have been feeding well in the surf on fresh shrimp and bloodworms.
Spanish and bluefish have shown up in good numbers from right off the beach out to about three miles. Trolling Clarkspoons has been the way to go when targeting these fish.
The cobia have moved in to the area, but they have been scattered.
The king mackerel bite has been on and off. Most fish of the fish caught have been in the 3-4 mile range.
The dolphin bite has been hot out to 50 miles.
Patrik Wood, of Dudley’s Marina, hooked this 31” bluefish while kayak fishing near Hammocks Beach State Park. The fish fell for a Carolina-rigged frozen finger mullet.
Matt, of Pogies Fishing Center, reports that the redfish bite in the back marshes has been the go to bite recently. Anglers have found success in the skinny water with the reds while throwing 4” Gulp Shrimp in new penny on a 1/8 oz. jighead.
Flounder are making their way inside. The flatfish are still in small numbers, but the catches should be increasing daily. The most productive bait for flounder as of late has been the 4” Gulp shrimp in pearl.
Speckled trout are still hanging around in the marshes and waterway, and anglers are having luck hooking them on Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ in the sexy mullet color.
The sheepshead bite is starting to pick up, and anglers are connecting with them around waterway structure and docks using live fiddler crabs. Black drum have also been caught in the same areas while fishing for sheepshead.
Anglers fishing from the pier are hooking in to keeper-sized spanish while plugging.
Just off the beach, the spanish bite is heating up for anglers trolling Clarkspoons. Nearshore, the cobia bite has taken off this past week. Bait balls have started to show up, and anglers are finding the most success by casting live pogies around those bait balls.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the inshore action has been steady. Anglers are hooking up with redfish in the backwaters using live mud minnows, small finger mullet, and cut bait. Anglers are also finding success on the reds with Gulp jerk shads.
Flounder have been mixed in in small numbers while fishing for reds.
Sheepshead have been holding around bridge structure and dock pilings in the area. The bait of choice has been fiddler crabs.
Black drum have still been hanging around. The best chance at success is fishing fresh shrimp around docks and structure in the creeks.
The spanish bite has been consistent right off the beach the past few weeks. Trolling Clarkspoons has been the most effective method for catching good numbers, but casting Stingsilvers has produced the larger 20+” spanish.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that redfish in the backwaters are starting to break away from larger schools. When the conditions are right, the MirrOlure Top Dog Jr. and Rapala Skitterwalk topwater baits have been working great. When the wind is up or the reds won’t cooperate, they’ve been falling for cut bait on the bottom.
The flounder have just started making their way inside over the past week or two. Small finger mullet or Zoom jerk shads have been the ticket for the flatfish.
The sheepshead bite has been strong around the local bridges and dock structure. Fiddler crabs have been the go to bait.
Sight fishing for cobia is starting to pick up in the area. Anglers have had success targeting bait balls with bucktails tipped with 8” Gotcha curly tail grubs.
Gary and Elizabeth Wilson, of Mechanicsville, VA with a double topwater hook up on a 2 foot deep flat near Swansboro. 27 inch redfish and 12-15 pound bluefish. Caught with Captain Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari charters.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that sight casting to cobia from the nearshore waters out to around 3 miles has been excellent. Anglers targeting bait balls with bucktails and large Hogy plastics will likely find some success if they put in the time. Dead baits around structure and inlets will also work on the cobia when sight fishing isn’t an option.
While trolling Clarkspoons within one mile of the beach, anglers are connecting with spanish and bluefish. Some larger chopper blues are still hanging around, but most of the bigger blues have moved out at this point.
King fishing has been consistent around 13 miles out and in approximately 70′ of water, and the dolphin bite has been excellent in 125-160′ of water. While fishing for dolphin, anglers are finding blackfin tuna mixed in.
Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish have made a strong showing this past week. Large ballyhoo pulled behind Ilanders have been the most productive bait. Wahoo have also been scattered in the same areas.
While bottom fishing, anglers are consistently connecting with triggerfish, grouper, and black sea bass on cut bait.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the spanish bite has been solid this past week. Most anglers are connecting with spanish while throwing Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers. The spanish have been ranging from smaller fish up to 3 lbs.
Cobia have been showing themselves near the pier, and a few were landed that were right near the minimum size limit.
