Swansboro – September 15, 2016
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the inshore red drum action has been excellent since the passing of Hurricane Hermine. Upper-slot reds are following large schools of mullet to area inlets and are schooling up in deeper channels near grass banks and oyster beds. Live mullet on a Carolina rig has been the bait of choice recently, but anglers may also tempt bites by using soft plastics on weighted jig heads.
Smaller reds are still being found in area marshes. They are schooled up in groups of 2 or 3 fish and can often be spotted patrolling grass banks looking for an easy meal. Topwater plugs have been successful early and late in the day, but the best action is coming from live mullet or mud minnows on Carolina rigs. Speckled trout are also mixed in with the reds and will take an interest in the same baits.
Flounder fishing has improved recently with the large amount of bait throughout Bogue Sound. Larger flounder are being caught drifting live mullet on Carolina rigs in deep channels inside of Bogue Inlet. ICW docks are also holding good numbers of flatfish that can be taken on either live bait or Gulp shrimp on jigheads.
Tony Hutchins, of King, NC, with a red caught while fishing in the ICW near Swansboro.
Jonathan, of OnPoint Fishing Charters, reports that the nearshore spanish mackerel bite is still strong; however, the fish are much smaller than they were before the storm. Anglers are still finding the occasional citation class spanish, but the majority of the fish are in the 1-3 lb. range. Trolling #0-#1 Clarkspoons behind a #1 planer or 2-3 oz. trolling weight has been particularly effective at putting large numbers of fish in the boat.
Small kings are still mixed in with the spanish, and they will take an interest in larger spoons, along with live mullet and menhaden.
Inshore red drum action has improved (despite the dirty water conditions) with the recent influx of cooler water into Bogue Sound. Slot sized reds are still being found throughout the marshes behind the barrier islands, but they are being drawn out of the marsh as the mullet move towards the inlet. A live mullet on a Carolina rig fished close to a grass bank, mud flat, or oyster bed has been the go to method to connect with a hungry redfish looking for an easy meal.
Josh Lippy, of Swansboro, with a 27” red drum caught with blue crab on the White Oak River.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf zone anglers are seeing increased red drum action off of the beach. Cut mullet on a fish finder rig with a large circle hook has been the most effective method of tempting bites from these upper-slot reds. Black drum, pompano, and sea mullet are also being caught off of the beach by anglers soaking fresh shrimp on double drop bottom rigs.
Further off the beach, anglers are reporting steady action with keeper-sized spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and casting shiny jigs like stingsilvers, diamond jigs, and Kastmasters to schools of feeding fish. False albacore are feeding alongside the spanish and will take interest in the same baits.
Offshore the wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish bite remains consistent for anglers making the run out to the break. There are still some mahi around, but anglers are reporting that the schools of fish are very scattered.
Bobby, of Teezher Charters, reports that the offshore bottom fishing has been excellent recently, with large numbers of grouper feeding close to shore. Live bottom in at least 60’ of water has been holding gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, and beeliners. Live baits like pinfish or mullet are great choices for big gag grouper, but bottom rigs tipped with cigar minnows, squid, or Gulp shrimp have been effective at putting a mixed bag of bottom feeders in the boat. Amberjack and king mackerel have also been schooled up on high relief structure in the same areas and can be caught on live menhaden drifted behind the boat while bottom fishing.
The wahoo bite has been red hot recently for anglers making the run out to the stream. Pulling high-speed baits like cowbells or Yo-Zuri Bonitas have been effective recently due to the schools of fish being scattered, but medium ballyhoo trolled naked or skirted are also effective at tempting bites from the hoo’s.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that black drum have been the big story for anglers fishing off the pier. Fresh shrimp on double drop bottom rigs are fooling black drum as well as sea mullet, croaker, and pompano.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught by anglers plugging, and a king mackerel was caught on a live bluefish from the end of the pier.
The water is 78 degrees.
