Swansboro September 1, 2011
Stan Owens, of Jacksonville, with a 38" red drum he caught and released in the surf at Bear Island. The red fell for a chunk of cut mullet.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that Hurricane Irene dirtied the area’s water and had widespread impacts in the Swansboro/Emerald Isle area, but the fish have already begun biting since her passage.
The water coming out of the creeks and rivers in the area is still very dirty, so anglers’ best odds are to fish closer to the inlets, along the outer edges of the marshes behind the barrier islands, and around the edges of the ICW. Red drum and flounder are feeding in all those areas, and Gulp baits and live finger mullet are tempting bites from both.
The storm seems to have concentrated the mullet and other bait in the area, and anglers should have little trouble locating some live baits along the marsh and ICW edges.
Fish are still feeding in the dirtier water closer to the mainland creeks and rivers, but it’s tough for them to find a bait, so noisy, flashy, or scented lures will help them home in on anglers’ offerings. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and scented soft plastics like Gulps are all good choices.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that prior to the hurricane last week anglers found some excellent fishing off Bogue Inlet. The fishery should recover quickly, though anglers would do well to begin prospecting a little further offshore of where the fish were before the storm.
The flounder fishing at the nearshore wrecks and rocks off Bogue Inlet was solid last week, and the fish likely haven’t gone far. Live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails are the way to go for the flatfish in the ocean.
Black sea bass are feeding at structure a bit further out in the ocean, and small vertical jigs, bucktails, and bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will get attention from the tasty bottom feeders.
Spanish mackerel should still be on the feed within a few miles of Bogue Inlet when the water clears up. Anglers can catch good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights, or they can target larger fish (3-6+ lbs.) with live baits on scaled-down king mackerel gear.
Sam Burman with a wahoo that struck a ballyhoo under a black/red sea witch while he was trolling with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
The wahoo bite was red hot last week in the Gulf Stream off the area last week, and the fish likely haven’t been affected too much by the weather. Trolling ballyhoo under dark-colored skirts on top and deep behind planers is the way to go for the ‘hoos.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers have been seeing a decent bottomfish bite in the surf and from the pier after Irene’s passage. Sea mullet, black drum, pompano, and more are feeding just off the beaches, and anglers can hook them all with shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs. Surf fishermen should be mindful of all the storm debris on the beaches, however, as plenty of boards with nails and other hazardous items are floating in the surf and sitting in the sand.
The water is clearing up and should be back in good shape by the weekend, and anglers can expect the usual late summer fishing to return with the clean water.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the pier lost around 200’ of its length in the storm, but it’s back open for anglers for the upcoming holiday weekend. Plans are also in place to rebuild the damaged section over the winter.
Since the weather, anglers have been hooking some sea mullet, pompano, and puppy drum on bottom rigs. Shrimp and sand fleas are producing action with all three, and cut or whole mullet are also particularly tempting to the pups.
Some bluefish are falling for bottom rigs, and anglers are also hooking a few on Gotcha plugs when the water’s clear enough for the fish to find them.
