Swansboro – September 14, 2017
Jay, of Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers fishing in the surf zone have found numerous schools of spanish and bluefish. Tossing Castmaster jigs has been getting the job done. Those fishing the bottom with sand fleas have hooked a good number of pompano. A few red drum have also been landed on fresh cut bait.
Red drum fishing in the sound has heated up, and targeting the marshes has been the most productive tactic. Casting topwater plugs near marsh lines and points has hooked plenty of reds. Speckled trout have been hanging in the same areas. Topwaters plugs, as well as soft plastics, have worked best for the trout.
Flounder fishing has started to pick up inshore. Targeting dock structure and marsh banks with live mullet and Gulp plastics has been the key to success. A few sheepshead have also been landed around area dock and bridge structure. Dropping live sea urchins and fiddler crabs along the pilings has been the ticket.
Andy, of Pogie’s Fishing Center, reports that cut and live mullet on Carolina rigs has hooked anglers up with plenty of red drum action. Most fish have been landed in the marshes near oyster structure and in creek mouths.
Flounder in the 15-20” range have also been caught in the marsh. Live finger mullet on a Carolina rig has been the bait of choice.
Those chasing speckled trout have found them to be scattered around in the inshore waters. Most fish have been landed in the early morning hours, and the 17MR MirrOlure (as well as live shrimp) has produced best. Most fish have been in the 14-18” range, with a few fish pushing the 20” mark.
Just off the beach, the spanish bite has heated up. Trolling Clarkspoons near the inlet has yielded high numbers of fish. A few false albacore have also been in the mix.
In the 5-10 mile range, king mackerel have shown up in good numbers. Trolling Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows has been the key to landing the kings. A few cobia have also been spotted in this range.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that black drum and sheepshead have been feeding well near river mouths. The best way to land good numbers of fish has been to drop live shrimp to the bottom using some stout tackle.
Those looking for speckled trout have had success targeting oyster bars and eddies in the White Oak River. Live shrimp and topwater plugs have been the baits of choice.
During the higher flood tides, redfish have been cruising the flooded grass in search of a meal. Anglers chasing them have had success tossing the fly rod or weedless soft plastics.
Near the inlets, fish have staged near the waterway edges and marsh channels. Redfish, flounder, speckled trout, and spanish have all been holding in these areas. Those casting Billy Bay Halo Shrimp, Gulp jerk shads, and live shrimp and mullet have found the most success.
Mason Rogers, of Hubert, NC, with a 47” red drum that took a chunk of bluefish on the bottom near Bogue Sound.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that the redfish have started to bunch up better, and most fish have been holding in the marshes. Gulp plastics, Rapala Skitterwalk topwaters, and live minnows have all fooled the reds into eating.
Speckled trout fishing is starting to improve, and the cooler temperatures should have them biting better each day. The MirrOlure MR17, as well as live shrimp, has been the ticket to finding a good trout bite.
A mix of small kings and large spanish have been holding around the nearshore reefs and wrecks. Light lining live minnows has been the most productive method of hooking fish.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that the wahoo bite has picked up, with some days producing limits of fish. Multiple 50+ lb. fish have been landed so far, and the quality of fish should continue to increase.
Sailfish and blackfin tuna have also been feeding well offshore. A few dolphin have been landed, and a couple of blue marlin releases have been made as well.
Nearshore, the spanish bite has remained steady. Anglers trolling with Clarkspoons have found plenty of action. The king bite has picked up, and those trolling dead cigar minnows have hooked into good numbers of fish.
Traci, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that casting cut bait from the pier has produced a few slot puppy drum. Those tossing Gotcha plugs off the end of the pier have hooked into plenty of action with spanish in the early morning and later evening hours.
Pompano have been holding near the pier as well, and sand fleas have been the bait of choice.
