Swansboro October 13, 2011
Jared Feibig and Craig Stanfield, both of Swansboro, with a pair of false albacore they hooked while casting diamond jigs a mile off Bogue Inlet. They were fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the speckled trout action around Swansboro is heating up as the water cools off a bit. The fish are feeding all over the area, with anglers finding action in the deeper creeks and runouts and around oyster bars in the marshes, both near the inlets and up Queens Creek and the White Oak River (with a mix of undersized fish and solid 17-20” keepers). Live shrimp are top choices for the trout, but they’ve been very hard to come by lately, so Gulp, Storm, and Halo soft plastic shrimp and live finger mullet have been the go-to baits lately. Fishing the shrimp under popping corks has been particularly effective in the shallower spots.
Scattered keeper flounder and puppy drum have been mixed in with the trout, and any oyster rock, creekmouth, or marsh bank with good tidal flow is likely to be holding at least one of the three.
Big numbers of reds are schooling up in the surf zone, but it’s been too rough to target them from boats lately. Casting Gulp baits or cut baits from the beaches is the way to hook up when anglers find the schools.
Outside Bogue Inlet, false albacore are schooled up and busting bait within two miles of shore (most 2-8 lbs.). Looking for working birds will lead anglers to the feeding schools. Diamond jigs, Stingsilvers, and other small, shiny metal casting lures will tempt the albacore to bite. Anglers may also be able to tempt the albacore to strike flashy flies.
Some king mackerel and gag grouper are feeding within 10 miles of Bogue Inlet. Anglers can target both with live baits, slow-trolling or drifting for the kings and bottom fishing for the grouper.
Big numbers of large sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats just off the inlet, and large cut baits will get their attention in a hurry.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on. Most of the fish are still coming from the backwaters and creekmouths up the White Oak River. Gulp baits have been producing the best results on the trout.
Red drum are feeding on the beachfront and in the backwaters. Topwater plugs, Gulps, live baits, and more will fool the reds inshore, and cut baits are hard to beat in the surf zone.
Surf and pier anglers also found action with some bluefish and spanish mackerel last week before the wind dirtied up the water. Casting lures like diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs are the way to go for the blues and spaniards.
Like the reds, anglers are finding action with flounder along the beaches and inshore. Live baits and Gulps will fool the flatfish in either location.
Not many boats have been offshore lately with the rough weather, but the wahoo bite should still be going strong in the Gulf Stream when boats can make it back out.
Capt. Andy Wolfe, of Fraud Giggin' Charters, with a pair of healthy speckled trout that bit Gulp shrimp in Bear Inlet.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen were hooking sea mullet and some spot before the weather got too rough last week, and they should be back around when it calms down. Shrimp, bloodworms, and Fish Bites will fool both.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel were biting Gotcha plugs off the pier last week, though the dirty water slowed that action down.
