Swansboro November 13, 2008
Cade Siebrecht (age 5) with a 23” speckled trout caught in the Swansboro area on an ultralight 6 lb. tackle with a brown Billy Bay Halo Shrimp. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters out of Swansboro.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing in the area is heating up for winter. Most of the fish are still holding in the creeks and rivers, and they’ll flush out to the sound once the water gets a little colder. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but anglers are also catching good numbers on DOA and Billy Bay shrimp imitations, and some larger fish are coming on MirrOlures. Shades of white and brown, depending on the water color, have been the most productive colors lately.
Some specks are also feeding along the beach in deep holes of the surf zone, and anglers can either cast to them from the breakers or run the boat outside the wash on calm days. Trolling MirrOlures along the backs of the breakers will help boaters locate the fish.
There are plenty of red drum schooling up in the surf as well, and they’ll often respond to topwater lures. When the reds don’t want to feed on top, Gulp shrimp and flukes will fool them.
Some reds are also feeding alongside the trout in the creeks and rivers, and a float-rigged live shrimp will attract them as well.
The flounder population has split up, with most of the summers moving out the inlet and the southern flounder heading into the creeks and rivers. Anglers have been catching good numbers in the creeks, but most are small, with a few keepers thrown in.
False albacore are chasing bait just off the beaches around Bogue Inlet, and anglers are finding them but looking for birds or schools working bait on the surface. Even a group of 2-3 birds can be worth paying attention to, as they will follow fish that are cruising deep, waiting for them to surface and feed. Stingsilvers and other small metal lures are the top baits for the albacore, especially in the smaller 1/4-3/4 oz. sizes. Anglers can cast the lures to surface feeding fish or work them deep around birds or bait marks to hook up with the fish.
Claire Ferebee (age 14) with a 51” barracuda she hooked at the D Buoy on a live greenie. She was fishing with her sister, Jill, and father, Mike, aboard the “Rhonda Bee” out of Cedar Point.
Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that winter is on the way, but Crystal Coast fishing should be good all year long.
Red drum are already schooled up on the shoals of Bogue and other area inlets, and they should be working the area over the coming month. Anglers can sight cast to the fish with 4″ Big Bite Bait shrimp on 1/4 oz. lead heads with success.
Speckled trout and gray trout are schooling in the inlets, and anglers have been putting together quick limits recently. Red jigheads with artificial shrimp and red head/white body MirrOlures seem to be producing the best results with the trout.
Some bigger gray trout are schooled up on the ledges off Onslow Beach in 25-30′ of water. Vertically working a Stingsilver tipped with Fish Bites is the best way to target the larger grays.
If the water cools off enough this year, anglers should see a run of striped bass feeding on Cape Lookout Shoals over the winter. Birds and surface feeding fish will tip anglers off to the schools if the fish show up.
Several bluefin tuna have already been landed in the area, and anglers are hurriedly rigging up their 50-130 lb. class gear to go target these giant and exciting fish. Horse ballyhoo under large trolling lures are the best baits for the huge tunas, but anglers who’ve never tried it before would be wise to go with an experienced crew, as the fish can be extremely dangerous.
Claire Ferebee (age 14) with a 51” barracuda she hooked at the D Buoy on a live greenie. She was fishing with her sister, Jill, and father, Mike, aboard the “Rhonda Bee” out of Cedar Point.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that king mackerel are still feeding heavily at rocks and other structure on the east side of Lookout Shoals. The bite remains hot at the 1700 Rock, where several 40 lb. fish have been landed recently. The Smell Wreck has also produced some phenomenal fishing lately, with boats landing limits of kings in the 30-40 lb. class.
Live pogies are still the top baits for the kings, but they’ve left the Harkers Island area. Anglers should be able to find them on the east side a few miles up from the Slough in 10-25′ of water. A heavy cast net is necessary to catch the fish in this deeper water, and most 8-10 footers aren’t up to the job. If anglers see mud balls in the water, it is likely the pogies are digging in to the bottom, and one throw of the net should load it up.
The wahoo bite has moved south of the Swansboro Hole, with decent numbers of 30 lb. class fish reported, and a few yellowfins in the mix.
Gag grouper are holding on ledges 16-20 miles off Bogue Inlet, and anglers in the know are limiting out on them with cigar minnows. Further off in the 40 mile range, the red grouper bite has been excellent.
On the east side of the shoals, bottom bouncers working some secret ledges are finding solid action with American red snapper and beeliners.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are starting to catch decent numbers of speckled trout in the surf and the sound, with most running on the small side so far. Live shrimp are the top trout producers, but many anglers are also hooking up while casting MirrOlures.
A few flounder are coming form the surf as well. Most are small, however, and anglers must weed through the little fish in order to land keepers.
Bottom fishermen on the piers are hooking puffers, whiting, and an occasional spot.
Jerry, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottomfishing has been productive lately, with anglers landing black drum, red drum, speckled trout, whiting, spot, and some bluefish. Shrimp and Fish Bites artificial bloodworms are producing the most action.
The water is 61 degrees.
