Swansboro September 27, 2012
Stephanie Havenski, of Cedar Point, NC, with her first wahoo, which fell for a ballyhoo while she was trollign along the break off Bogue Inlet with Capt. Daniel Monette on the "About Time."
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that inshore action continues to be good in the Swansboro area. Large amounts of shrimp and other bait are in the marshes right now, so the fall fishing forecast is looking good.
Fishing live shrimp under floats and on light jigheads around oyster rocks up the White Oak River has been producing some exciting mixed bag action with red and black drum, flounder, and speckled trout.
The flounder bite has also been solid around Bogue Inlet, with some of the best action in the nearby creeks. Finger mullet and Gulp baits have both been effective and are putting solid numbers of keeper flatfish in the boat.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes and bays behind the barrier islands, and anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and live baits. Many of the area’s reds have also moved out the surf zone, and north winds will offer anglers excellent conditions to ride just off the breakers and look for the schools. Gulps on heavier jigheads are tough for the surf reds to turn down.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has turned on for fall. Anglers are catching solid numbers of the specks (many 2-3+ lbs.) in the Bogue Sound creeks and marshes. Live shrimp fished under floats and Gulp baits on 1/8 oz. jigheads are both fooling the specks, and the best bite lately has been around the first few hours of the falling tides. Some large (1.5+ lbs.) sea mullet have been providing a tasty bycatch for anglers fishing live shrimp for the specks.
Red drum are still feeding in the bays and marshes, too, and will respond to topwater plugs, Gulps, and live baits. Searching for the fish under trolling motor power gives anglers the best odds of crossing paths with some hungry reds.
Flounder fishing has been excellent recently, both in numbers and size (with several 5-8 lb. fish lately). Casting live finger mullet to creek mouths during falling tides has been the best flatfish formula lately.
Rhiannon O'Meara with a 4.5 lb. flounder that she hooked on a Gulp-tipped bucktail at some nearshore structure off Bogue Inlet while fishing with Capt. Roy Heverly of Emerald Isle Adventures.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that pier anglers hooked several king mackerel last week and landed one, so the kings seem to be moving toward the beaches. Live menhaden and bluefish are top choices for the kings when they’re feeding nearshore.
Plenty of spanish mackerel continue to feed along the beachfront, with larger fish around nearshore structure within a few miles of land. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal lures like diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs will fool the smaller fish, while the larger spaniards are more apt to fall for live baits like finger mullet and menhaden.
The flounder bite is still going at the nearshore live bottoms and AR’s, and most anglers are hooking the fish on 2 oz. bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Surf casters are finding plenty of action with slot and over-slot red drum, flounder, pompano, sea mullet, and more. Live baits are top choices for the reds and flounder, while shrimp and sand fleas are the way to go for the pomps and mullet.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers hooked several king mackerel on live baits dangling from the end of the pier last week.
There are still spanish mackerel feeding around the pier and falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in.
Flounder are feeding under the pier (some 2-4 lbs.) and falling for smaller live baits.
Speckled trout have shown up, and anglers are hooking a few in the early morning hours on bottom rigs, MirrOlures, and green curlytail grubs.
Bottom fishermen are picking up a solid mixed bag of sea mullet, pompano, spot, black drum, and more on shrimp.
