Swansboro September 15, 2011
Brandon Deal and Allen Cobb with a wahoo that they hooked on an orange/black-skirted ballyhoo near The Rise while trolling out of Bogue Inlet on the "Tracie D."
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the water in the Swansboro area is clearing up and the temperatures have dropped a few degrees in the wake of the recent storms. Shrimp and finger mullet are on the move and plentiful in the area right now, and fall fishing is just kicking off.
Some speckled trout are beginning to feed in the rivers and creeks, as well as the channels near the local inlets. Live shrimp are the best baits, but anglers are also hooking up on Gulp baits and Storm and Halo shrimp imitations.
The red drum are still scattered, but there are good numbers to be found in the marshes and backwaters. The reds are chasing finger mullet, and topwater plugs have been effective with them lately, particularly on overcast days. When the fish don’t want to bite on top, live finger mullet and Gulp baits will tempt them into action.
Big numbers of reds are also feeding in the surf, and anglers can target them from boats on calm days and from the beach when it’s rougher. Gulp baits will tempt them to bite when anglers can see the schools, and cut baits are the way to go when fishing blind.
Bluefish are feeding voraciously in the channels inshore, and anglers can hook them on topwater plugs and many other lures.
Flounder fishing is still solid inshore, where anglers can find the fish in creekmouths and around docks. Live finger mullet or Gulp baits will tempt bites from the flatfish.
The rough weather lately has likely pushed many of the flounder from the nearshore reefs within 3-4 miles of the beach on out to the 5-10 mile range, but anglers should still be able to find some. When they do, 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are hard to beat.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that bottom fishing at structure in 60-85’ of water has been putting some gag grouper and plenty of sea bass and grunts into the fish box. Live menhaden and cut baits are tempting bites from all three (as well as a variety of other bottom feeders).
The spanish and king mackerel bite seems to have slowed down since the storms moved through the area, but schools of false albacore are busting bait off Bogue Inlet right now. Small, flashy metal jigs are the way to go for the falsies, and searching for surface activity or working birds will clue anglers in to where the schools are.
Justin Hott and Jonathan Wilkins, from New Bern, NC, with a 68 lb. wahoo that bit a live menhaden at the Atlas Tanker while they were fishing with Ken Wilkins, Joe Geigher, and Mike Moody.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen have been connecting with some pompano, spot, and sea mullet over the past week. Shrimp and bloodworms are tempting the bottom feeders to bite.
Inshore, anglers are hooking good numbers of flounder around docks off the ICW and other channels. Live mud minnows and finger mullet are excellent choices for the flatfish, but Gulp baits on stand-up jigheads or bucktails can be equally or more effective.
The red drum bite is on as usual in the backwater marshes in the area, and anglers can tempt the reds to bite topwater plugs, Gulps, spinnerbaits, or live baits.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are chasing bait off Bogue Inlet, but anglers need to find some clean water in order to find the fish. When they do, trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs or casting diamond jigs and other small metal lures will tempt them to bite.
Blue water trollers are reporting an excellent wahoo bite at Gulf Stream hotspots in the area. Ballyhoo under dark-colored trolling lures are the way to go for the ‘hoos.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching some spot and pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished on the bottom beneath the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas and other metal lures.
