Swansboro September 13, 2012
Dana Tabarrini, of New Bern, with a 71 lb., 11 oz. wahoo that bit a live Boston mackerel in 70' of water 8 miles off Bogue Inlet. Weighed in at Island Harbor Marina.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that inshore fishing around Swansboro has been good lately, despite dirty water from the persistent recent rains. The water is clearing, and with north winds and sunny skies forecasted for the coming week, the action should get even better.
Big numbers of black and red drum are feeding around oyster rocks in Queens Creek and the White Oak River. Anglers are hooking both on live and cut shrimp.
The shrimp are much more plentiful than they’ve been in the past few years, and anglers can catch plenty in the marshes at lower stages of tide.
More reds (most mid-upper slot fish) are feeding in the marshes, occasionally in small pods but mostly single fish and pairs. A few fish are also prowling the edges of the ICW in search of meals. Gulp baits and live finger mullet have been producing the majority of the action with the reds lately.
There had been a good speckled trout bite in the local marshes, but the dirty water seems to have slowed it down. As the water cleans up again and temperatures remain cool this week, the specks should turn back on. Anglers looking for the trout would do well to prospect likely spots like creek mouths around the higher tidal stages and cast live shrimp or Gulp jerk baits.
The inshore flounder bite has been excellent lately, with solid numbers of fish feeding around creek mouths and docks along the ICW and in the marshes. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits are both tough for the flatfish to turn down.
Large swells and wind have kept many anglers inshore over the past week, but those who’ve made it out in the inlet are reporting that the nearshore flounder bite is still going strong. The flatfish are feeding around the AR’s, rocks, and live bottoms within a few miles of Bogue Inlet, and anglers are hooking the majority on 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Plenty of bait balls are working along the beaches and just offshore, and the bluefish are harassing them. In clearer water, spanish mackerel are joining in on the action, and anglers can hook them on small diamond jigs cast towards the surface activity.
The big amounts of bait and north winds will likely trigger a strong king mackerel bite along the beaches in the coming weeks.
Scott Kohrt, of Culpepper, VA, with an upper-slot red drum that bit a Gulp shrimp in a Swansboro-area marsh while he was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are hooking plenty of bluefish and some sea mullet along the beachfront. The blues are falling for metal jigs and a variety of baits, while shrimp and sand fleas are tempting bites from the mullet.
Red drum are also feeding along the beaches, and anglers can hook them on cut baits or live finger mullet.
Flounder fishing has been excellent inshore lately, with deeper holes and docks producing most of the action. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits are tempting the flatfish to bite.
Some red drum are in the same areas, and more are feeding in the marshes.
Speckled trout are beginning to make their fall showing, and anglers are encountering them primarily in the rivers and creeks right now. Live shrimp or a variety of soft plastic lures will fool the specks.
The flounder bite is also still solid at the nearshore reefs and live bottoms, where 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are the best bets.
Spanish mackerel are chasing bait in clean water near the beaches, and they will fall for trolled Clarkspoons or Flutter Jigs and other casting lures. Larger spanish are chasing bait around nearshore structure and are more likely to commit to a live bait.
Boaters making the run to the Gulf Stream are still hooking excellent numbers of wahoo on ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures. A few have been caught inshore of the Gulf Stream lately, with one just 8 miles out last week.
Bottom fishermen are loading up on triggerfish, beeliners, grouper, and amberjacks, with the best action out along the break right now.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that plug casters are connecting with a few bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas and diamond jigs.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some pompano during the day and sea mullet and black drum in the evening hours. Shrimp have been producing most of the action.
Live baiters caught and released a 100 lb. class tarpon from the end of the pier last week.
