Added on Thursday, May 28, 2009  Fish Post

Swansboro May 28, 2009

Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that big numbers of redfish have moved into the local backwaters (with fish ranging all the way from 16-30+”). Most are scattered instead of schooled up tightly. Fishing topwater plugs like Rapala Skitterwalks around flooded marsh grass at high tide should draw strikes from the reds. When the fish don’t want to eat topwaters, Gulp baits on light jigheads or spinnerbaits should get their attention.

Sheepshead have taken up feeding positions around the area’s bridge and dock pilings. Fiddler crabs fished on small #1 or #2 wide gap hooks will produce results on the sheeps.

Summer flounder are pushing into the sounds and rivers. Working shorelines and dock pilings with Gulp-tipped spinner baits or live pogies or finger mullet on Carolina rigs will tempt the flatties to bite. The largest flounder will be holding around channel walls or structure like docks, rock piles, oyster rocks, and grass flats.

Nearshore, anglers are hooking up with spanish mackerel and some kings, bonito, cobia, and amberjack while trolling small live baits and diving lures.

Flounder and sea bass are feeding at nearshore bottom structure, and they will take an interest in a Gulp-tipped bucktail.

Anglers looking for live baits should be able to find some larger pogies around the Swansboro waterfront in the mornings and peanut pogies and finger mullet in the creeks off the ICW.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that flounder have shown up inshore. The best action has been up Queen’s Creek and the White Oak River. Some larger summer flounder are staging on the nearshore reefs before heading into the inlets. Anglers are hooking most of the fish on 4″ Gulp shrimp, but live baits like finger mullet and tiger minnows are plentiful in the area right now and will produce bites as well.

There are plenty of red drum around the Swansboro marshes (but most have been on the smaller side of the slot-18-22″). Larger fish should begin showing up soon. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits will produce action with reds of any size.

Chopper bluefish are feeding around the inlet and the Coast Guard channel. Small pogies free-lined on the surface have been producing most of the action with the blues.

Sheepshead (up to 4-5 lbs.) have shown up around the local bridge pilings, oyster rocks, and other structure. Mud crabs and dock crabs are the best baits, as their softer shells are easier for the sheepshead to eat than a harder fiddler crab. A small Carolina rig with a short leader and a small, short-shank hook will produce the best results on the sheepshead.

Some black drum are mixed in with the sheepshead, and more will be moving to the deeper structure around the bridges as the water warms up.

Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and inshore, but most have been on the smaller side over the past week.

A few trout are coming from the rivers and creeks. Topwater plugs or live shrimp early in the mornings are the best bet to hook up with specks right now.

 

Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the dolphin bite has been wild lately off the Crystal Coast, with anglers catching limits in short order around the 14 Buoy and similar spots. Most of the fish are gaffers, with a few smaller fish thrown in. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures will draw dolphin strikes. Some even larger fish have been feeding out around the Big Rock and the Swansboro Hole.

King mackerel and amberjacks are feeding at structure in the 30 mile range. Most of the kings are smaller, school-sized fish. Live pogies are attracting attention from the kings and AJ’s (most 20-35 lbs.). Anglers have even been able to hook up with the jacks on topwater plugs after live chumming them into a frenzy.

Grouper are holding tight to the bottom structure where anglers are hooking up with the kings and jacks, and anglers should be able to tempt them to bite by dropping live baits or jigs to the bottom.

 

Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been hot lately when the water’s clean on the beach. Anglers are hooking them from the pier while casting Gotchas and from boats while trolling Clarkspoons.

Some large Hatteras bluefish are feeding alongside the spanish, and they’re taking an interest in the plugs, spoons, and live baits.

Surf and pier anglers are hooking up with a nice mixed bag of pompano, whiting, black drum, an occasional red drum, and other bottomfish while baiting bottom rigs up with shrimp.

In the backwaters, anglers are catching some red drum and speckled trout. The topwater bite has been off, but the fish are falling for Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, and Halo Shrimp under popping corks.

Offshore, king mackerel are feeding around the Papoose and other high relief structure, and live baits are the best choices to fool them.

The dolphin bite has been excellent around the 14 Buoy lately, and boats are catching all they want while trolling ballyhoo and dolphin weenies.

 

Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding action with black drum and whiting while baiting up with shrimp.

Some sheepshead and speckled trout came over the rails last week as well.

Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas, and a small cobia was landed last week as well.