Swansboro September 2, 2010
Scott Dennis, of Brooklyn, NY, with a dolphin that fell for a live pogy on a light-line while he was bottom fishing off Bogue Inlet in 110' of water with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still finding action with large spanish mackerel along the beaches, where they’re hooking up with them on smaller live baits. The king bite has slowed nearshore, but anglers are still connecting with a few kings in the 10-20 mile range. Some dolphin are in the mix, too, and amberjacks and barracuda are feeding at the wrecks and reefs in the same range. Live baits will fool all of the fish.
There are plenty of smaller spanish mackerel feeding on glass minnows in the inlet and inshore to the ICW on rising tides. Sabiki and spec rigs and Maria and diamond jigs will fool the spaniards.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been excellent around the deeper docks and channels and on the marshy flats at higher tides. Live finger mullet and mud minnows, along with Gulp baits, will fool the flatfish.
The red drum bite is getting better inshore, as the fish group up to feed on the big numbers of shrimp in the bays. Practically any bay with shrimp in it will have some reds, too, and anglers can fool them on live shrimp, Gulps, and topwater plugs early in the day.
Ladyfish are feeding on the same flats and in the ICW at night. Anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs on the flats and live baits in the deeper water.
The coming dry week should turn on the speckled trout bite in the deeper channels as the fish follow shrimp out of the creeks and rivers.
Gray trout are showing up, and anglers should be able to connect with them around the deeper holes near the inlet while working spec rigs or Stingsilvers and other jigging lures.
Sheepshead are feeding near the bridges and docks in the area, and anglers are hooking them on live fiddler crabs. Some larger fish are falling for live shrimp around dusk. Black drum are schooled up in the same areas as the sheeps, and they will take an interest in live shrimp as well.
Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing a solid flounder bite at nearshore structure in the ocean. Jigging a bucktail tipped with a 4” Gulp bait will outfish live baits when anglers are targeting the ocean flatties.
Amberjacks are schooled up at high relief structure not far off the beaches and will readily fall for live baits.
The large spanish mackerel bite is still on along the beachfront and at nearshore structure, and anglers are hooking the fish on smaller live baits.
Inshore, red drum are feeding well in the marshes, and anglers can fool them on live baits under popping corks, spinnerbaits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and more.
Jessica Cochran landed this 5.5 lb. citation flounder on a live finger mullet while fishing a 3' deep marsh bank in the Swansboro backwaters with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Greg, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder inshore in the marshes and around deeper structure and channels. Live baits and Gulps are fooling most of the flatfish.
Whiting are beginning to make an appearance in the deeper holes near the inlet and in the ICW, and anglers can hook them on bottom rigs baited with shrimp or other baits.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes, where anglers are tempting them to bite Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, and topwater plugs.
Off the beaches, the big (to 6+ lbs.) spanish mackerel bite is still on at the Keypost and other structure within a few miles of shore. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies are the ways to tempt bites from the larger spaniards.
Some flounder are still feeding on the bottom in the same places, and they’ll bite live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking up with some stout whiting and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Anglers are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel in the early mornings on live baits and Gotcha plugs.
Live-baiters landed a 24 lb. king mackerel last week.
