Swansboro November 8, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that November means speckled trout time in the waters around Swansboro. While these fish are abundant throughout the area, it takes skill and persistence to be able to locate and catch them on a consistent basis.
Most of the trout that spawned over the past two seasons were able to survive the subsequent winters, and, as a result, the bays, creeks, channels, rivers, and sounds are alive with 17-20”, 1.5-2 lb. trout, with some larger fish around as well.
Anglers pursuing the trout should keep at least three rods ready in order to handle any technique necessary to put specks in the boat: a rod rigged with a slip float which anglers can use to drift live shrimp and finger mullet back into the strike zone, a rod featuring a light jighead and a Gulp bait, and a rod set up with a 3-4” MirrOlure will allow anglers to cover all the bases.
Red drum will also be looking for meals in the creeks, channels, and bays near the inlets, as well as along the surf zone.
Summer flounder, along with the larger southern flounder, will be moving from the backwaters towards the ocean in order to get ready for their migration to the deep water areas where they spend the winter. Anglers can target these fish in the inlets and nearby channels and at the nearshore AR’s and live bottoms with Carolina-rigged live baits and Gulp baits fished on jigheads or bucktails.
The smaller southern flounder will be spending the winter in the internal waters, and they should be heading for deeper holes up the rivers, where they’ll be feeding heavily on shrimp, pogies, and mullet in preparation for the winter.
Anglers can also successfully target bluefish, gray trout, black drum, whiting, and sea bass around Swansboro in November.
Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that despite the rough weather, fishing has been excellent over the past few weeks. The king bite is still red hot, and many boats are putting together limits of kings in the 20-30 lb. class. The best action has moved offshore a bit, and boats have had the best results lately while fishing the Southeast Bottoms, Honey Hole, D Buoy, and Charlie Buoy. The kings are also still feeding hard on the east side of Lookout Shoals, where big fish are coming from the 1700 Rock, 30 Minute Rock, and Drum Inlet area.
In the blue water, boats are still finding solid wahoo action around the Swansboro Hole all the way south to the Steeples. Many of the wahoo are in the mid-30’s or larger. Along with the wahoo, plenty of sailfish releases have been reported by Gulf Stream trollers.
It shouldn’t be long before the yellowfin tuna join the wahoo and sails feeding in the blue water.
Bottom fishermen have been catching some fat red and gag grouper at the ledges out of New River and Bogue Inlets.
Greg, of the Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are catching good numbers of trout near the stop nets set up along the island’s surf. MirrOlures, especially the red/white TT26 model, are top choices for the surf trout.
Surf anglers are also scoring with big whiting (1-2 lbs.), pompano, bluefish, and flounder. Shrimp and artificial bloodworms are best for the whiting and pompano, while finger mullet should appeal to the bluefish and flounder.
Inshore, anglers are finding some flounder holding in the deep holes of the ICW and inlet connecting channels.
A few spot have moved into the ICW, but they aren’t around in great numbers yet.
Speckled trout should be feeding along channel edges and oyster bars near the marshes.
Red drum are looking for meals in shallower areas of the marsh and grass flats. The turbid ocean water has kept anglers from locating the schools of drum on the inlet shoals and in the surf, but they should be around when the water clears up.
King and spanish mackerel are still feeding together along the beaches, but it won’t be long until the cool weather chases them offshore.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the spot are running on and off, and they seem to be getting larger by the week. Bloodworms are the best baits for the spot. Anglers baiting bottom rigs with shrimp are landing some spot, pompano, and a few black drum.
Plug casters are catching good numbers of bluefish.
The water temperature is 69 degrees.
