Swansboro September 25, 2008
Rennie Clark, Sr. with a red drum caught on a topwater plug on the flats near Topsail. He was fishing with his son, Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the recent cold front and NE winds and high tides have pushed big numbers of red and black drum, speckled trout, and flounder into the backwaters.
The reds (most 24-34″) are working the flooded grass flats and bays, and they’ve been feeding and striking aggressively lately. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits fished on spinnerbaits and light jigheads will produce plenty of action with the reds.
The speckled trout bite is improving, with anglers landing good numbers of fish (most 1-3 lbs.) daily. MirrOlures in pink, green, and red colors, as well as a variety of soft plastic baits, will fool the trout, but live shrimp are the best bet for speck action.
Flounder fishing has been improving over the past few weeks, and anglers are hooking the flounder around boat docks and other structure off the ICW with Gulp baits and live finger mullet. Most of the fish are smaller, but a few up to 7 lbs. have been weighed in lately.
Black drum and sheepshead are still feeding around the area’s bridge and dock pilings. Live shrimp or small crabs are the best baits for both fish, and they should be fished straight down next to the pilings.Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that plenty of bait is showing up along the beaches, and spanish and king mackerel are cruising in the same vicinity looking for meals. The areas near Bogue Inlet Pier and the Keypost have been especially hot lately. Live peanut pogies are top choices for baits, but anglers can also hook up while trolling Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows in blue patterns. Finger mullet and dead, skirted cigar minnows should also produce some action.
Bigger kings, some dolphin, and a few wahoo are feeding around Steve’s Rock, the 50’s Bottoms, and the SE Bottoms. Live cigar minnows, greenies, and pogies are the best baits, with pogies getting the nod.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore structure has been good lately, and anglers can hook the flatties on live finger mullet or bucktails tipped with scented soft plastics.
Bottom fishing further offshore is producing action with sea bass, and out at ledges near the Naeco there has been a good grouper bite.
The NE blow pushed the red drum out the inlets, and they’re feeding in the surf right now. It’s dangerous to chase them in the boat, but anglers can beach their boats on the backside of Bear and Brown’s Islands and walk over to hook the fish in the surf.
Capt. Mike Pedersen, of No Excuses Charters out of Wrightsville Beach, with a flounder caught on a Gulp bait on an oyster bar in a creek near Topsail Inlet.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that the king bite has been solid lately and should be solid for the Onslow Bay Open tournament this weekend. The kings should be feeding along the beaches around the Bogue and Beaufort sea buoys, the Keypost, AR-342 and AR-345, Christmas Rock, the Honey Hole, Rocks South, 210 and 240 Rocks, NW Places, and the SE Bottoms.
If the wind is blowing north, the action will be near Beaufort, where boats can fish the Dead Tree Hole, #7 Buoy, Barden’s Ledge, AR-315, the Trawler Buoy, and the Barge Wreck.
King fishing is also hot on the east side of Cape Lookout this time of year, at spots like the 30 Minute Rock, George Summerlin, 4 Mile Rock, AR-275, the D Wreck, Portland Ledge, East Rock, and 1700 Rock.
Live pogies are top baits for the big kings, and anglers should be able to find them along the ICW from Harkers Island back towards Swansboro and in the ocean off Shackleford Banks. Dead cigar minnows and ribbonfish are also proven kingfish producers.
Jack Swart and Mike Green, from Swansboro with a 57 lb. wahoo caught at the SW corjner of the Big Rock on a blue-white skirted ballyhoo. They were fishing aboard a 23' Parker, and weighed the fish in at Dudley's Marina.
Dan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are catching pompano, whiting, black drum, and red drum on shrimp, sand fleas, and cut mullet.
Flounder are falling for live finger mullet and other baits, and bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and Kastmaster spoons.
Inshore, anglers are catching flounder and red drum. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will draw strikes from both fish, and anglers can also cast topwater plugs to the reds with success.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching black drum and pompano on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and cut baits on the bottom.
Live baiters landed several king mackerel last week, with the largest weighing 25 lbs.
The water is 76 degrees.
