Swansboro – October 27, 2016
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of redfish near the inlets of channel edges leading out of the marsh. The most productive ledges have been those that are lined with oyster shells.
Finger mullet or Gulp shrimp on Carolina rigs with circle hooks have been the most productive, as have jerk shads on weighted jig heads. Most of the reds are under-slot to slot-sized fish, but a fair number of them are bulls so anglers should be prepared for anything.
The speckled trout bite has been red hot throughout Bogue Sound. Most of the specks have been holding in the marsh in areas with heavy current. Marsh points, oyster beds, and drop-offs are also areas that can be holding good numbers of the fish.
Soft plastics on jig heads and beneath popping corks (as well as various suspending twitch baits) have been putting the largest fish in the boat. Live bait has been the best for catching large numbers of trout; however, most of the trout hitting live baits will be smaller.
Flounder are mixed in with the trout and will take interest in the same baits.
Ana Parker, of Peletier, with a 19.5” speckled trout landed on a spec rig in the surf of Emerald Isle.
Johnathan, of On Point Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been excellent in the White Oak River and marshes around area inlets. The specks have been falling for Zoom Jerk Shads, suspending MirrOlures, and live shrimp fished under a popping cork. Fishing moving water is the key to finding hungry trout on both sides of the tide.
False albacore are being found just outside of Bogue Inlet where they are feeding on the huge schools of glass minnows in the area. Small flashy jigs like Stingsilvers, diamond jigs, and Epoxy jigs have been fooling them most days. When anglers are unable to find actively feeding fish, #0-#00 pink or green Clarkspoons trolled behind a 2-3 oz. trolling weight is a successful method to cover more water while actively fishing.
Red drum are stacked up in the surf, and anglers are finding them on calm days by cruising just behind the breakers looking for the schools of drum or bait balls. Gulp jerk shad in a variety of colors on heavy jig heads have been the best baits for these surf zone reds.
Randy Weinstein, of Columbus, OH, caught this trout after it bit a Saltwater Assassin soft plastic. He was fishing in the Swansboro area with Capt. Walt Bateman of Coastal Carolina Guide Service.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that anglers have been catching large numbers of king mackerel at the Keypost Rocks while slow trolling live menhaden on live bait rigs over top of structure like rocks, live bottom, and wrecks. Large spanish mackerel and bluefish are in the same area and will take interest in the same baits, but anglers may have to scale down their rigs to a smaller wire in order to fool these more finicky feeders.
Further offshore in the Gulf Stream, anglers are connecting with large numbers of wahoo, blackfin tuna, sailfish, and the occasional yellowfin tuna. Naked and skirted ballyhoo have been fooling the majority of these pelagic species, but anglers can also tempt bites using a variety of trolling plugs and dinner-bell style lures. Anglers should target all four species around temperature breaks, weedlines, rips, and color changes.
Inshore, anglers have been connecting with large numbers of speckled trout while casting sinking and suspending twitch baits through area marshes. Soft plastics on jig heads will also tempt bites from hungry specks and reds that may be in the same area.
Stukie, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite has been red hot, with anglers finding large numbers of 22″+ trout throughout Bogue Sound. Anglers are focusing their attention on marsh edges with heavy current and noticeable structure like oyster beds, blow-overs, and drop offs.
Soft plastics like a Zoom jerk shad on a 1/16 oz. jig head has been fooling the most and biggest trout in the area. Popping cork combos have also tempted bites from plenty of trout, as well as any reds that may be in the same areas.
Scattered flounder have also been in these areas, although anglers are reporting that most are too small to keep.
King mackerel are feeding heavily on the large schools of mullet and menhaden offshore, and anglers are having no trouble finding good numbers of them just off of the beach. Live menhaden, bluefish, or mullet on live bait king rigs are the main baits for tempting bites from a smoker king. Anglers are reporting the best action at the Keypost Rocks, but any live bottom or bait ball should be holding kings.
Surf anglers have been catching over-slot red drum recently, with large numbers of citation class fish being caught. Cut mullet on Lupton style rigs are the best bet for hooking into a large drum. Black drum, trout, and bluefish have also been caught on fresh shrimp and chunks of crab fished on fish finder rigs.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with large numbers of king mackerel on live bait rigs from the end of the pier. Menhaden and bluefish have been the best baits recently, but spot and croaker will also get the attention of a hungry king mackerel.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are being caught while working Gotcha plugs from the end.
Flounder, black drum, speckled trout, and red drum are being caught on a variety of live and cut bait on fish finder rigs. Anglers are also connecting with spots, sea mullet, pompano, and croaker while soaking fresh shrimp on double drop bottom rigs.
