Swansboro May 27, 2010
Lauren Barber and Kristyn Hall with a pair of red drum that fell for topwater MirrOlures in the backwaters near Swansboro. They were fishing with Capt. Robert Hall of Hall 'Em In Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that there are plenty of red drum working through the area’s marshes, from single fish to small pods to schools of upwards of 100. The topwater bite has been excellent lately, and anglers can also catch the reds on spinnerbaits, Gulps, and live mud minnows.
Live shrimp are just starting to show up in the area and will become available in bait quantities soon.
Speckled trout are moving around in the creeks and deeper channels in the sound. Aside from live shrimp, anglers can tempt them to bite Gulp jerkshads and topwater plugs.
Flounder are scattered throughout the shallow bays, where Gulp baits will attract their attention. Live baits on Carolina rigs fished in deeper water should also produce some action with the flatties.
Bluefish are everywhere inshore and will attack just about anything anglers can cast to them.
The sheepshead bite is getting cranked up, and anglers caught good numbers around the area’s bridge and dock pilings last week. Clams and live fiddler crabs are the baits of choice for the sheeps, and anglers can locate the fiddlers on nearly any tide by walking through the grassy interiors of the spoil islands along the waterway.
Cobia are still around Bogue and Beaufort inlets and Cape Lookout. Anglers can sight-cast lures like bucktails to them or tempt them to hit live pogies and other baits.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the red drum bite is on in the Swansboro backwaters (with some 30”+ fish). Topwater plugs have been producing explosive strikes from the reds in the mornings and afternoons, with natural colors producing the best in clear water and orange/gold/brown getting more attention when the water’s dirtier.
Inshore flounder fishing is better than in past years, with anglers catching double-digit numbers of fish (in the 1-3 lb. range) most days on Carolina-rigged live baits or spinnerbaits in the shallows.
Tom Mason with a bull dolphin that fell for a rigged ballyhoo in 450' of water off Beaufort Inlet while on the maiden voyage of the "Clipper Too."
Nearshore ledges and other structure are holding big numbers of summer flounder (1-6 lbs.), and most are falling for bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Sheepshead have moved into the sounds and rivers, and anglers are catching good numbers (most 1-5+ lbs.) around bridges, docks, and other hard structure in the area. Live shrimp, crabs, and sea urchins are producing most of the action with the sheeps.
The cobia bite is still on around Bogue and Beaufort inlets. Anglers can find the fish feeding around flotsam, artificial reefs, and schools of pogies, and then entice them to bite 12” Powerbait eels or 8” Gulp eels fished on bucktails. A live pogy on a circle hook fished around the pogy schools will also attract attention from the cobes.
Spanish and king mackerel are feeding around structure within a few miles of the beaches. The big breeder spanish (4-7 lbs.) will be showing up soon, and anglers can tempt them to bite 3-5” pogies or mullet fished on light tackle in the early mornings.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that the Onslow Bay bottom fishing is improving as the grouper follow warmer water to structure closer to the beaches. Live or dead baits fished on Barefoot Fishing Decoy jigs and baitless Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs are producing plenty of action with the grouper.
King mackerel are in the same areas, and anglers can fish a live pogy or cigar minnow beneath a balloon to entice them to bite while bottom fishing.
Snake king mackerel are feeding around nearshore structure like AR-345 and 342, and anglers can hook up with them while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and live and dead baits near the structure.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beaches, and anglers can hook up with them while trolling gold and silver Clarkspoons on long leaders or 3 5/8” Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
Caitlin and Megan Tedder, from Jacksonville, NC, with a pair of king mackerel they hooked while trolling skirted ballyhoo near Diver's Rock with their father.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the Gulf Stream has been hot lately, with excellent gaffer dolphin fishing, some black and yellowfin tuna, and a few blue marlin. Trolling skirted ballyhoo is the ticket to hooking up with these blue water predators.
Closer to the beaches, amberjacks are feeding on the wrecks and other bottom structure, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, vertical jigs, topwater plugs, and even flies.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers have been catching some big (9-10 lb.) Hatteras bluefish lately in the surf and from the piers.
Plenty of small flounder are also feeding in the surf zone.
Larger flounder are feeding on the nearshore artificial reefs and other bottom structure, and they will take an interest in 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Some large black sea bass are holding in the same areas as the flatties. The bass will take an interest in the bucktails or bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers working Gotcha plugs from the pier are hooking up with plenty of bluefish (some to 10 lbs.) and some spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are finding some action with spot, whiting, pompano, and sheepshead, with shrimp the most effective bait.
