Swansboro May 26, 2011
Kristin Warren and Dustin White, of Smithfield, NC, with 23 and 30" red drum they sight-casted Gulp baits to and released after the photo. They were fishing the marshes near Bear Inlet with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait along the beaches, and trolling Clarkspoons or other small lures will produce plenty of action with both.
Some larger spanish mackerel are showing up around the nearshore reefs and live bottoms, and live baits generally prove more effective on the big fish.
King mackerel are showing up around structure and bait in the 15 mile range, with a few closer to the beaches. They’ll only get more numerous and move closer to shore over the coming weeks. Surprisingly, a few Atlantic bonito are still around as well.
Flounder fishing is good and getting better at structure within 6 miles of the beaches, and bucktail/Gulp bait combos are the most effective way to hook up with the flatties.
Some cobia are still following bait balls between Bogue and Beaufort Inlets, but they’re thinning out some. Anglers will be more likely to encounter the cobes around nearshore structure and areas they’re king mackerel fishing from now through the beginning of summer.
Inshore, the flounder bite is improving, with the large fish coming from structure like docks and sea walls. Creek mouths are also producing good numbers of fish on the falling tides. Bucktails and live finger mullet will produce results on the flatties inside.
Sheepshead are moving inshore and holding on structure like dock pilings close to the inlets. It won’t be long until they’re feeding at the area’s bridges in full force. Fiddler crabs will get attention from the sheeps wherever they are.
The red drum bite is off a bit, likely because the fish are holding in deeper water in the ICW or way back in the marshes.
Ryan Reagle, of Swansboro, with a 40 lb. cobia he caught after it bit a live menhaden just off Emerald Isle. He was fishing with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are spotting cobia around the buoys, bait balls, and sea turtles off Bogue Inlet. Live menhaden or bucktail jigs with long trailers will tempt bites from the cobes when anglers spot them.
Amberjacks are schooled up at structure from 50’ on out, and they will respond to live baits and a variety of lures.
King mackerel should be feeding in solid numbers at spots in the 10-20 mile range, and live baits will tempt them to bite when anglers find them.
Grouper season is open, and the fish are hanging around structure in the 80-115’ depth range, where a bait-tipped bucktail or a live bait will prove difficult for them to resist.
Sea bass season opens up in less than a week, and large bass are feeding at just about any bottom structure more than a few miles offshore. They’ll attack most baits or lure that anglers drop to the bottom.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that offshore anglers have been hooking up with good numbers of dolphin up and down the break offshore of Bogue Inlet. A few sailfish have been mixed in, and some blackfin tuna are still feeding around the Swansboro Hole. Skirted ballyhoo will tempt bites from all the blue water predators.
Closer to the beaches, anglers have been reporting some king mackerel around the Charlie Buoy. Live baits are difficult for the kings to resist.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beaches, and anglers can hook them by trolling Clarkspoons or casting small metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface.
Inshore, the red drum bite is still decent in the marshes, and anglers are finding increasing numbers of flounder around docks and other structure.
Rylan Felmater, from Newport, NC, with a 6.5 lb. flounder he hooked on a live mud minnow while surf fishing with his father at Atlantic Beach. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
JoAnne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching huge numbers of chopper bluefish (to 10+ lbs.) over the past few weeks. They’re falling for live baits, metal lures, and baited bottom rigs.
Some spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs worked from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking some sea mullet and pompano on rigs baited with shrimp.
The water temperature is 77 degrees.
