Swansboro October 25, 2012
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.”
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that false albacore are schooling up off Bogue Inlet and chasing bait in big numbers 2-5 miles offshore. They’ve been readily biting topwater plugs lately, and anglers are also hooking up on small metal lures and while working soft plastics on heavier jigheads than they use inshore.
King mackerel are feeding in many of the same areas and further offshore. They’ll pounce on live baits like menhaden and bluefish when anglers find them.
Anglers are still catching good numbers of flounder at nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet, but many are on the small side right now. Plenty of keepers are still out there, however, and Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktails are the best bets for the ocean flatfish.
Many of the area’s red drum have moved out to the surf zone and are feeding on the shoals of Bogue Inlet and along the beachfront. On calm days with light or north winds, anglers can run the backside of the breakers in boats and visually find the schools of reds. The fish typically aren’t picky in the surf, so anglers can cast a variety of lures with success once they find the fish.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite is phenomenal around deeper spots and oyster rocks in the local marshes. Live shrimp and Gulp baits will both attract attention from the trout.
Robbie, of Hall’em In Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with easy limits of speckled trout inshore right now (with most fish 2-3 lbs.). The action’s been best in the local creeks, with some anglers finding hungry trout in the ICW as well. All tides have been producing some action, but the best of the bite has been around the last part of the rising tide and the first of the fall. Live shrimp are top choices for the specks, but they’ve also readily been biting clear D.O.A. shrimp and Gulp jerkshads on light jigheads.
Flounder fishing has slowed down a bit, but anglers are still connecting with flatfish (some to 5 lbs. lately) while working white Gulp baits in the local creekmouths.
Red drum have made a move from the backwaters to the inlets and surf, and they are feeding on big numbers of finger mullet moving out the inlets. There are still some feeding in the bays behind the barrier islands as well, but the best bet for locating numbers of fish is to head to the ocean.
Mike Haut and Matt Morel, of the Emerald Club fishing team, with a cobia that bit a live bait near the Hutton wreck.
False albacore are chasing bait within a few miles of Bogue Inlet, and anglers can connect with the hard-fighting fish while casting metal jigs to schools of fish feeding on the surface under working birds.
The king mackerel bite is one of the best that anglers have seen in recent memory, and live baits like menhaden and bluefish are the way to hook up with the kings. East Rock has been one of the best spots locally lately, but anglers should be able to find feeding fish around virtually any structure with bait in the area.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf fishing has been hot lately, with anglers connecting with puppy drum, flounder, pompano, sea mullet, and more from the beach.
Live finger mullet are fooling most of the puppy drum and flounder, with Gulp baits also producing results.
The sea mullet and pompano are taking an interest in shrimp.
Speckled trout are beginning to make an appearance in the suds, but it’s been hard to target them so far. The bite will only get better as the water cools a bit more.
The red drum and speckled trout action remains solid in the bays and backwaters inshore. Live baits, topwater plugs, and Gulps will attract attention from both fish.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beachfront and falling for trolled Clarkspoons and other lures. Anglers are also still connecting with some big spanish while slow-trolling live baits for kings.
Offshore trollers are reporting that the wahoo bite remains strong at local Gulf Stream spots, and some dolphin are still around and biting as well.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching a bit of everything right now. Sea mullet, pompano, spot, and black drum are taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on double bottom rigs.
Those fishing small live baits on the bottom are hooking some flounder and red drum.
Bluefish are biting a variety of baits, Gotcha plugs, and other metal lures that anglers are working from the pier.
