Swansboro September 12, 2013
Brian Fulp, of Wilmington, with a 6.5 lb. sheepshead he hooked on a Gulp shrimp in a creek near Bear Inlet.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that big numbers of red drum are feeding in the marshes and bays behind Emerald Isle and Bear and Brown’s Islands. Anglers are finding the fish feeding around oyster rocks and along grass lines, and they’re tempting them to bite topwater plugs, Gulp baits and other soft plastics, and live shrimp and mullet. When the wind’s calm and the tide is right, anglers are getting some sight-casting opportunities at the reds, but prospecting with blind casts has been producing when the conditions aren’t perfect for sight-casting.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas as the reds, and they are also looking for meals along the outer edges of the marshes, ICW docks, and creekmouths. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are tough to beat for the flatfish, but they’ll also take an interest in Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
The red-hot speckled trout action from a few weeks back has begun to slow down, but anglers are still hooking decent numbers in the White Oak River, Queens Creek, and other mainland creeks off the sound. Fishing high falling tides has been critical to success with the specks lately. Most are falling for live shrimp fished under floats, but anglers are hooking a few on soft plastics as well.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been some solid dolphin action recently, with good catches coming from 10 miles offshore on out. Most are smaller; however, they’ve been eagerly schooling around the boat and other floating objects, so anglers are able to cast baits and lures on light tackle matched to the size of the fish. A variety of artificials and live, dead, or cut baits are attracting attention from the dolphin.
Dropping baits to structure in the 100’ depths is producing plenty of action with black sea bass, beeliners, red porgies, and other assorted bottom feeders. Squid and cut baits on double-drop rigs will tempt bites from all the tasty bottomfish.
Amberjacks are schooled up at high-relief structure within 10 miles of land. They’ll pounce on live baits, but they can also be tempted to bite jigs, topwater plugs, and even flies when they’re feeding actively.
Phil Causey with an over-slot red drum he caught and released in a Bogue Sound marsh after it struck a topwater plug. He was fishing with his nephew, Capt. Robbie Hall of Hall’Em In Charters.
Spanish and king mackerel are also feeding around bottom structure and bait concentrations in the same range. Live menhaden are tough for either mackerel to turn down.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that blue water trollers are hooking big numbers of wahoo while working local Gulf Stream spots like the Swansboro Hole right now. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches, Ilanders, and Blue Water Candy JAGs are tempting most of the bites from the wahoo. Some dolphin have been mixed in and are also taking an interest in the ballyhoo.
Closer to the beaches, king and spanish mackerel are feeding at spots like the Keypost and SE Bottoms. Live menhaden are tough for both fish to turn down.
Flounder are looking for meals on the bottom in the same areas and biting bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Surf casters are connecting with some puppy drum from the beach, and a few speckled trout are beginning to show up as well. The trout bite should only get better as fall arrives. Anglers can hook both fish in the surf while casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics or hard lures like MirrOlures.
Some flounder are also falling for Gulp baits that anglers are working from the beaches.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have had a good week with sea mullet, spot, and black and red drum. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits on two-hook rigs are fooling all the bottom feeders.
Some flounder have been falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
