Swansboro – November 16, 2017
Richard, of Reel Outdoors, reports that surf fishing has picked up. Anglers have found plenty of red drum and speckled trout while targeting the suds. A few small flounder have been landed in the surf zone as well. Fresh cut mullet and cut shrimp have worked well. For anglers looking to toss artificials, MirrOlures and soft plastics have done the job.
Inshore, a few red drum and speckled trout are feeding in the marsh. Live shrimp under float rigs and soft plastics have worked the best. Both numbers and sizes of fish are good, with plenty of keeper-sized trout and drum in the mix.
Jerry, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that speckled trout and red drum fishing has remained steady in the marsh. Anglers targeting reds have found the best success using live finger mullet and cut mullet on Carolina rigs. The better bite has been around oyster structure and along marsh banks.
Those looking for trout have found the most fish holding near deeper water around the inlets. The top producing baits have been live shrimp under float rigs and soft plastics.
Those heading off the beach have found a few spanish still hanging around. Trolling Clarkspoons and slow trolling live baits have both produced fish.
Grant Caraway with a gag grouper that swallowed a live pinfish 26 miles out of Bouge Inlet. He was targeting live bottom with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Guide Service.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the river has held good numbers of redfish. Anglers targeting oyster beds and mudflats have found plenty of action, and a mix of live finger mullet and Gulp shrimp have worked best.
Targeting the marshes near the inlet has produced good numbers of speckled trout. Live shrimp under float rigs and Zoom soft plastics are getting the job done.
A few flounder are still in the mix with the trout. The flatfish have preferred live finger mullet on a Carolina rig or Gulp soft plastics.
Anglers fishing just off the beach have found plenty of kings and false albacore. Live pogies and Stingsilvers have both worked well.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that anglers tossing live shrimp, soft plastics, and MirrOlures have found limits of speckled trout. Fishing near the inlets in the marsh has produced fish in the 15-20” range, with a few larger ones in the mix.
Those looking for red drum have found fish still around and willing to eat. Casting live and cut mullet around dock structure and marsh banks has done best. Most fish are in the 18-24” range, with a few over-slot fish mixed in.
Nearshore fishing has produced good numbers of spanish and false albacore. Casting metal jigs to busting fish has landed the most fish, but trolling Clarkspoons has also gotten the job done.
Slow trolling live baits has tempted plenty of kings into biting. Targeting nearshore structure has been the best way to get a king bite.
Tyler Evanko (age 17), from Wilmington, NC, with a 41 lb. king mackerel caught on a live pinfish at Dallas Rock.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that those looking for kings have found plenty of action in the 5-15 mile range. Most fish have preferred slow trolled live baits, but dead cigar minnows have also worked. Anglers fishing around rock structure and nearshore reefs have found the most fish.
While trolling offshore, anglers have encountered blackfin tuna and wahoo when using live baits.
Those dropping to the bottom have landed grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and beeliners.
Out at the Gulf Stream, the wahoo and blackfin tuna bite remains steady. A few mahi have also been in the mix, as well as a few remaining sailfish.
Kevin, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have landed a variety of fish from the pier. Spot, puppy drum, black drum, speckled trout, gray trout, sheepshead, blowfish, and pompano have all been landed. For the puppy drum, fresh cut mullet has worked best. A mix of fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have worked well for the rest of the species.
