Swansboro – October 22, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Guide Service, reports that speckled trout are making a good showing around Swansboro, with the best action on higher tides at spots close to the local inlets. Most are biting Gulp baits, Zoom Flukes, and soft plastic shrimp imitations. Anglers are also seeing some good trout action back in the mainland rivers and creeks, but there have been better numbers of keepers closer to the ocean.
Some red drum are still feeding in the Bogue Sound marshes, but many have moved out to the surf zone in the wake of the heavy rainfall a few weeks back. Anglers can fool the reds on Gulp baits and other soft plastics, using lightly-weighted jigs and rigs in the marsh and heavier ones in the surf zone.
Black drum are looking for meals around docks and oyster points inshore. The crustacean-lovers will bite live or fresh shrimp and crab baits fished tight to the structure.
False albacore are feeing just off Bogue Inlet and along the beachfront. Anglers can spot the fish chasing bait on the surface and feeding under working birds, and then ease up and cast metal jigs into the action to hook up.
King mackerel have been feeding from the beachfront to spots in the 15 mile range lately, and anglers are hooking them while trolling live and dead baits around rocks, reefs, and bait schools they can find.
Joshua, Audrey, Mark and Crockett Henderson and Chris Waters and the “Liquid Fire” fishing team took home first place and over $73,000 in the 35th Annual Swansboro Five-O King Mackerel Tournament, held October 14-17 out of downtown Swansboro. A monster 51.82 lb. king earned the crew the victory.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of false albacore feeding off the local inlets and out to the 10 mile range. They’ve been a bit finicky recently, but anglers are hooking some on small metal casting lures.
Amberjacks are schooling around structure from the 50’ depths on out. Anglers can fool the brawlers with live baits or fast-moving artificial lures.
Flounder have been feeding around bottom structure from the beachfront to the 65’ depths. The flatfish will pounce on live baits or bucktail jigs tipped with Gulps and strip baits.
Anglers are finding king mackerel from the shoreline out to 60’+ as well. Live baits like menhaden are the best bets for connecting with the kings.
Vance Nanney, of Morganton, NC, with a 20+ lb. king mackerel he landed while trolling a live bottom in 55′ of water off Bogue Inlet with Capt. Chesson O’Briant of CXC Charters. A live greenback herring fooled the king.
Stevie, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of red drum while surf fishing at Emerald Isle. Shrimp, finger mullet, and cut baits will fool the drum.
Some flounder are also feeding in the surf and biting live and Gulp baits.
Beach anglers baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas are hooking some sea mullet, pufferfish, and pompano.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite is turning on in the creeks and bays. The specks will strike live shrimp or a variety of artificials including topwater plugs, MirrOlures, and soft plastics.
Some red drum and flounder are feeding inshore as well and biting live baits and Gulps.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding just off the shoreline, and false albacore have shown up in good numbers as well. Both will bite trolled spoons or metal casting jigs tossed to fish chasing bait on the surface.
There’s been a good king mackerel bite recently, but the majority of action has been at spots east of Cape Lookout. Live baits are the best bets for the biggest kings.
Tony Hutchins with a red drum that struck a live mullet while he was fishing inshore near Swansboro.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have had some excellent luck with puppy drum and flounder from the pier recently (with slot drum and flounder to 5+ lbs.). Live baits are fooling both, and anglers can also hook the drum on cut baits or shrimp.
Black drum, pompano, and some pufferfish are biting shrimp on the bottom.
Anglers working casting lures like Gotcha plugs from the pier are connecting with some bluefish and false albacore.
