Swansboro November 11, 2010
Dwight Lanier, Robbie-Bobby Ferrell, and Benson Ybanez, of the "Open Wide" fishing team with a 49" red drum that fell for a double pogy rig on the downrigger offshore of New River.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the majority of the area’s red drum have made their way out the inlets and are schooled up on the inlet shoals and along the beachfront. Anglers are hooking the fish in the breakers on live finger mullet and Gulp baits.
There are still a few pods of reds working the marshes, but most of the mid- to upper-slot fish have already moved out. Smaller reds and flounder are feeding in the mainland creeks, where anglers are hooking plenty of each on Gulp baits.
Anglers are catching big numbers of speckled trout in the sound, the marshes, and the creeks, but the majority of the fish have been on the small side.
There have been some better quality speckled trout feeding around the Cape Lookout rock jetty, where they’re mixed in with big numbers of bluefish, gray trout, and red drum. Live shrimp and Gulp baits are producing plenty of action with all the fish at the jetty.
There are still a few flounder feeding on nearshore structure, and some of the larger flounder inshore have made their way out to the surf as well. Live mullet or Gulp baits will get the flounders’ attention.
The cooler weather already has the fishing in a fall/early-winter pattern, and anglers who adapt are apt to score better catches. No matter what the species, scaling down tackle and lures and fishing slower will produce more bites in the cooler water. Live mud minnows are a proven cold water bait, and they will become even more key as shrimp begin to become more scarce in the area.
Willis Best, from Straits, NC, with a large flounder he hooked on a finger mullet in the Middle Marsh during the rising tide.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding some good action with speckled trout along the beachfront and in the backwaters. MirrOlures and soft plastic grubs will tempt bites from the specks.
The red drum bite has been on in the surf and for pier anglers as well, and cut baits are producing most of the action with the reds.
Whiting are also feeding in the suds, where they’re falling for shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that the gag grouper bite has been solid not too far from the beaches lately. Anglers have been catching keeper gags in as little as 55’, with good action from that area to the 80’ depths. Natural bottom has been more productive than the artificial reefs and wrecks, and anglers are hooking the fish on live baits and bucktails tipped with natural baits. Some triggerfish, large sea bass, and other bottom dwellers are in the mix as well.
Some king mackerel were still in the 10-15 mile range last week, but they’re likely on the move offshore. Anglers who can find the fish should have little trouble hooking up, as they’re feeding hard before winter closes in.
Peyton Kelly (age 11) with snowy grouper and a large bigeye toro he hooked while deep dropping in 550' of water offshore of the Big Rock while fishing aboard the "Sea Spud."
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a wide variety of fall fish lately. Pigfish, puffers, black drum, spot, whiting, and more are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Live baits fished on the bottom are fooling some flounder, speckled trout, and puppy drum.
Bluefish are taking an interest in just about anything anglers are casting.
