Swansboro October 11, 2012
Larry Reynolds, of Knoxville, TN, with a citation 56 lb. cobia that bit a live menhaden near the Northwest Places while he was fishing with Capt. Bobby Borquin of Teezher Charters. Weighed in at Dudley's Marina.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the area’s speckled trout bite just keeps getting better as the temperatures begin to feel more like autumn. Anglers are finding the specks around creek openings, oyster rocks, and deeper holes in the marshes and bays. Live shrimp and Gulp baits pinned to light jigheads are producing most of the action with the specks.
Red and black drum are looking for meals around oyster rocks in the White Oak River and Queens Creek. Fresh cut shrimp are fooling both, but anglers can also tempt the reds to bite a variety of artificial lures.
Scattered red drum are also cruising the bays behind the barrier islands, and any area with schools of finger mullet working should have a few reds close by. Casting topwater plugs, Gulp baits, or live finger mullet around the action is the way to tempt them to bite.
Flounder fishing has been good in the inlet and around nearby creeks and marshes. Live finger mullet are tough to beat for the flatfish, but white Gulp shrimp have also been putting good numbers in the boat.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are working their way into Bogue Inlet on higher tides. When anglers spot the fish chasing bait, they can cast Stingsilvers or other small metal lures to the action to hook up.
Christopher Clark with a citation 8.45 lb. spanish mackerel that bit a ballyhoo on a king mackerel rig just east of Bogue Inlet Pier while he was fishing with Jim thomas and friends on the "Flat Bottom Girl."
The nearshore king mackerel that have been a bit tough to come by all summer have arrived in force, and anglers are hooking big numbers while live-baiting along the beachfront and at nearshore structure.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel action off and around Bogue Inlet is hot and heavy right now, and even surf casters are reporting seeing leaping kings. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are the best bets for the kings, but anglers may also be able to hook up on dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo. Trolling around working birds, bait on the surface, or nearshore structure is the way to find the fish.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel are also on the feed nearshore, and anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons, casting metal jigs, or free-lining live baits in the same areas as the kings.
Offshore, the wahoo and dolphin action remains hot from the 14 Buoy on out to the break. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are producing the lion’s share of the action with both.
Red drum are still feeding inshore, and a school of fish have moved out the inlet to the surf zone off Bear Island. Anglers can either cast to the fish while wading or fish the back side of the surf from boats on calm days. Gulp baits and a variety of other artificials will all fool the reds.
Wayne Powell, of Jacksonville, NC, with the 33 lb., 7 oz. king mackerel that took first place in the Bogue Inlet Pier King Mackerel Tournament. The big king fell for a live bait on a pin-rig.
Surf casters on Emerald Isle are also connecting with some reds on cut baits and finger mullet.
Sea mullet and pompano are still around and biting shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas, along with a few spot.
The speckled trout bite is getting better and better inshore, and anglers are finding the fish in the creeks and deeper areas in the marshes and rivers. Live baits, Gulps and other soft plastics, and MirrOlure MR17’s and other suspending hard baits will attract attention from the specks.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that there’s been an excellent spanish mackerel and bluefish bite from the pier lately. Anglers are hooking both while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Several king mackerel were landed by live baiters fishing from the end of the pier last week (the largest 33 lbs.).
Spot are showing up intermittently, but the pier hasn’t seen a big run yet. Other panfish (like sea mullet and croaker) are around, and all will take an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
