Swansboro September 15, 2005
Billy, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the pier’s state record tarpon has been the big news. A 175 lb. tarpon was landed last Wednesday night (see page 2 for photo). The pier has also released two other tarpon this week.
They’re also catching 1-2 lb. blues, some puppy drum, and a few pompano.
Dale, at The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf fishing has been producing a few pompano, spots, and sea mullet. No big runs of spots, but they have been a good size.
You can find drum in the marsh grass of the sound, and they’re running anywhere from 18 to 30 inches.
A couple of the AR’s did real well with flounder before the weekend weather hit. Guys were catching multiple fish, with the heaviest going up to 4 pounds.
The king fishing has been real slow lately.
Capt. Jeff Cronk, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the NE blow has the finger mullet beginning their southerly migration. There are large schools of 3-6″ finger mullet moving south along the ICW and the inlets. Shrimp are plentiful up Queens Creek and White Oak River along creek mouths. And there’s plenty of small shad in the mainland bays just off the ICW in Swansboro.
The reds have been cooperating well along all three local inlets. The NE blow will probably chase them into the deeper water just inside the inlets, but expect the bite to pick right back up along the surf as soon as the hurricane passes and the winds shift back to a southerly direction. These reds are still ranging from 18-30″. There are some large chopper blues up to 4 lbs. mixed in with these fish.
The flounder bite along the nearshore live bottoms has slowed with the NE blow this weekend, but it should pick back up when the winds shift back to the southerly direction. Target live bottoms and ARs within four miles of the beach for the best summer flounder action right now. On the internal waters, targeting docks and other structure along the ICW will produce good numbers of flounder with a chance at a citation 5+lber this month.
The speckled trout bite has also slowed with the NE winds. Once the winds shift and the water clears, the bite should turn back on. Areas to try will be Banks Channel, Trout Creek, Cow Channel, Sanders Channel, and Bear and Brown’s Inlets. Typically, the bite gets consistent around the first of October and lasts through December.
There are some chopper blues showing up in small schools around Bogue Inlet and the shoals, as well as the larger bays near the inlet. Most of the fish are from 1 to 4 lbs. and will strike artificials and live bait.
Capt. Stanman, of Captain Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that the strong NE winds kept a lot of boats at the dock this past week.
Some fishermen did get out and there are still reports of a wahoo bite in the area of the 90 Foot Drop and the Big Rock. Shingle dolphin are still available when the wahoos don’t bite. Try downsizing your baits for both of these species using smaller ballyhoo on Carolina Witches– black/red, black/purple in heavier weights for the wahoos, and blue/white, pink/white in lighter weights for the dolphin. Consider using a wire trace for the wahoos.
Reports of an African pompano caught 25 miles out of Bogue Inlet got the phones ringing over the weekend. The fish was estimated to be 40 lbs. and was caught by fishermen out of Goose Creek Campground.
There were some kings in the teens and low 20s reported at Bear Rock and Lost Rock.
Capt. Lee Manning and Capt. Bill Baughn, of the Nancy Lee Fishing Charters in Swansboro, are finding plenty of small kings and some 10 to 12 lb. albacore around the Keypost.
