Swansboro October 11, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that October’s cooler temperatures have brought the inshore water temps from the low 80’s to the mid to upper 70’s. The cooler water has triggered the mullets’ annual migration south, creating excellent inshore fishing that should last the rest of the month.
Speckled trout and red drum are the big news on the inshore scene right now. Throughout the backwaters, anglers are hooking up with big numbers of 1-2 lb. specks, both on artificial and live baits.
Reds are still feeding behind the barriers islands surrounding Bogue and Bear Inlets. At higher tides, the fish are cruising flooded marsh grass and grass edges looking for meals. Anglers can target these drum most effectively by casting relatively snagless spinnerbaits and topwater plugs.
Anglers can also target the drum in the marshes and around oyster bars with live baits rigged under popping corks.
Good numbers of sheepshead and black drum should be mixed in with the reds and trout. Live shrimp will tempt the crustacean-eating sheepshead and black drum while still appealing to the specks and reds. Carolina rigs, slip float rigs, and popping cork rigs are all effective ways to fish the shrimp.
Flounder are feeding in the ICW and inlet connecting channels, as well as the feeder creek channels. To land the biggest flatfish, anglers should work structure areas in the channels with Carolina-rigged finger mullet or other baits fished on strong line.
Along the beaches, anglers are landing big numbers of spanish mackerel (up to 5+ lbs.) and lots of kings (10-20+ lbs.). Live baits are the top choices for both mackerel species, although they’ll fall for a variety of lures as well.
Flounder are still scattered along the nearshore live bottoms, and they are especially concentrated around certain spots. Anglers willing to put time in within a few miles of shore should be able to locate the fish and take home a limit. Both live baits on Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with Gulp baits will get the flounder’s attention.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum are still feeding on the shoals of Bogue Inlet, although the red bite in the marshes has slowed down somewhat. The drum are feeding on the mullet flushing out the inlet, and they will strike Carolina-rigged finger mullet or a variety of mullet-imitating lures.
Flounder fishing has been solid lately with some larger fish holding in the inlet and the deeper backwaters behind Bear Island and Hammock’s Beach. Most of the fish near the inlet are 20”+, and anglers are routinely catching 6-10 per day. Carolina-rigged finger mullet or peanut pogies are the top flounder producers.
Big numbers of smaller flounder (12-18”) are feeding in the shallow marshes where anglers typically target red drum. Mud/oyster bar edges and flooded grass flats are the areas to look for these fish, and they’ve been biting Gulp baits very well lately.
The speckled trout bite has been a bit slow recently, probably due to the unusually warm water for mid-October. As the water temperature falls, though, trout fishing should get excellent, first in the marshes and backwater sounds, then in the inlets and along the beaches. While the trout will strike a variety of lures, live shrimp are far and away the top trout producers.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding with abandon just off Bogue and Beaufort Inlets, and along the beach in between. Slow-trolled live baits will draw strikes from both species, but anglers can also cast diamond jigs or other lures at breaking spanish while trolling larger baits for the kings.
Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that the wahoo bite has been steady between the Yellowfin Hole and the Swansboro Hole/90’ Drop, as well as further south around the Steeples. Most of the fish are in the upper 20 lb. class. The action is fast and furious, so anglers should wait for a weather window, get out there, and put some ‘hoos in the box.
Bottom fishing has also been good recently. Swansboro-area boats have been loading up on red grouper around 40 miles off the beach, with some nice gags coming from structure in the 10-20 mile area.
Nearshore, king mackerel fishing has been excellent over the past week. Schools of kings are staging outside the inlets waiting for various baitfish to be flushed out to sea. Live pogies or 5-6” mullet fished on live bait rigs will tempt the kings to bite.
Several sailfish have been caught and released just off the beach near Bogue Inlet recently, and the sails will fall for the same baits the kings will.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the spot runs are beginning. Bottom fishermen are decking them while baiting up with shrimp, bloodworms, and artificial bloodworms. Spot fishermen are also hooking up with a few pompano.
Spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish are falling for plugs, and a plug caster also landed a 10 lb. false albacore last week.
