Swansboro – October 8, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that fishing was good inshore around Swansboro before last week’s tandem storms, and anglers can expect the fall fishing to ramp up as the water calms down and cleans up.
Red drum should still be looking for meals in the marshes, with areas near inlets the best bets until the fresh water pushes out of the area. The reds will bite topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and a variety of other lures, but live and cut baits may produce the best results until the water conditions return to normal.
Anglers were starting to see some good speckled trout action in the mainland rivers and creeks before the storm, and the fish should still be around and hungry. Like the reds, anglers will likely find the most success with the specks closer to the ocean in the coming days. Live shrimp are the best baits for the trout, but anglers can also cast artificial lures in bold colors to find success in the dirty water.
Flounder should also be feeding near the inlets and around structure and creekmouths wherever anglers can find reasonably clean water. Live baits and soft lures like Gulps are the ways to fool the flatfish.
James McCargo (age 8) with a spanish mackerel that bit a metal jig in the surf at Emerald Isle while he was fishing with his father.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers were seeing typical fall action with false albacore and king mackerel within a few miles of shore before last week’s wind and rain, and as long as bait keeps pouring out the inlets, the action should get back on track over the next week. Live and dead baits slow-trolled around bait schools and nearshore structure should fool the kings.
Anglers can look for the albacore attacking bait on the surface and cast small metal lures into the action to hook up.
Further offshore, Gulf Stream trolling was heating up before the blow, with good numbers of wahoo and blackfin tuna. October often presents some of the best blue water action of the year, so anglers should be able to connect with some fish when the weather is calm enough for the long run. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures will fool the wahoo and tuna.
Bottom fishermen will see gag grouper stage on ledges and live bottoms not far from land as they feed heavily before the water cools for winter. Live, dead, and cut baits will all attract attention from the gags.
Teresa McCullough, of Rocky Mount, NC, with a 27″ red drum that bit a Gulp shrimp while she was kayak fishing near Swansboro with Ronner Spivey.
Bob, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers have been hooking some sea mullet and other bottom feeders while fishing from the surf and pier over the past week. Shrimp and Fish Bites baits on small hooks are producing most of the action.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have also been feeding just off the shoreline, and they’re responding to casting lures that anglers are working from the beach and pier.
Inshore, boaters are finding some speckled trout and red drum despite high and dirty water making it difficult to find the fish. The action should improve throughout the marshes in the coming days, and anglers can cast live baits or a variety of artificials to connect with the backwater predators.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers were hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish before last week’s storm pushed through. A few jack crevalle have been mixed in, and all three fish are biting casting lures like Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishermen have been decking some spot and sea mullet at night along with some pompano in the daytime hours. The panfish are biting shrimp and bloodworms.
