Swansboro June 2, 2011
Rebecca Gray and family with the results of a birthday/anniversary trip nearshore flounder fishing off Bogue Inlet with Capt. Jeff Cronk of FishN4Life Charters. The flounder fell for Gulp-tipped bucktails at structure within five miles of the inlet.
Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that red drum are feeding in the bays and on the grass flats throughout the Swansboro backwaters. The large schools have broken up, but anglers should be able to find a few in just about any of the bays. Topwater plugs have been producing action with the reds all day long lately. Casting spinnerbaits tipped with 3” Gulp pogies has also been producing action with the reds around docks and large oyster rocks inshore.
Flounder fishing is improving inshore, and anglers are finding the flatfish (from undersized to 5+ lbs.) in the inlets, ICW, and bays, with the largest fish holding tight to structure. Live finger mullet or menhaden are top choices for the largest fish, and anglers should use as light a weight as possible in order to avoid spooking them. Gulp-tipped spinnerbaits are also very productive on the flounder, especially around creek mouths, shellbeds, and the edges of sand and grass flats.
Solid numbers of sheepshead are holding around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure inshore in the area, and fiddler crabs on Carolina rigs with short leaders and small hooks are the top baits. The fish are also feeding on oyster beds and shelly channel drop-offs, where a live shrimp or fiddler under a slip float is the way to go.
Anglers looking for reds may also find large (5-10+ lb.) sheeps feeding on the shallow flats, and a live shrimp on a weightless hook will tempt these big tailers to bite.
Nearshore, the flounder fishing is still hot at structure from the beaches out to around 5 miles offshore. Bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are the way to go for the flatfish in the ocean.
Good numbers of king mackerel and some amberjacks and dolphin are feeding in the 5-15 mile range off Bogue Inlet, and live baits like menhaden, sardines, and cigar minnows will attract attention from all three.
Black sea bass (and lots of them) are feeding around structure from a few miles offshore on out. The season opens June 1, so anglers can now take some home for the table.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been solid all over the inshore waters over the past week, though the fish aren’t feeding in large schools. Live baits and Gulps have been producing most of the action with the reds lately.
Sheepshead are becoming more numerous in the area, and anglers are putting together some good catches around the bridge pilings and deepwater docks (with some fish to 5+ lbs.). Fiddler crabs are the way to go for the sheeps.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have followed schools of bait inshore and are feeding in the deeper channels and along drop-offs near the inlets. Small live baits or metal casting lures will tempt plenty of bites from both fish if anglers spy them feeding on the surface.
Flounder fishing has been solid lately inshore and off. Gulp-tipped bucktails are producing most of the action with the flatties inside and around nearshore structure in the ocean.
Offshore, the bottom fishing has been excellent for grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and plenty of other fish lately. Targeting ledges and other structure in 80+’ of water is the way to fill a cooler with tasty bottom dwellers.
Luther Barbour, of Kenly, NC, with a 6 lb., 9 oz. red drum he hooked while bottom fishing from Bogue Inlet Pier.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that bottom fishing around structure in 80-100’ of water has been very productive lately. Anglers are hauling up gag grouper, triggerfish, red porgies, black sea bass, and plenty of other species from the depths. Sea bass season opens June 1, so anglers can finally bring some bass home. Live baits are top choices for the grouper, and cut baits, squid, and small jigs will tempt bites from the other bottom feeders.
Amberjacks and some cobia are feeding in many of the same areas. Anglers can tempt both to bite live baits, and they may also be able to get the jacks to eat topwater plugs when they’re actively feeding.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder in the surf on live baits and Gulps.
Sea mullet, pigfish, and other bottom feeders are rounding out the catch for surf and pier bottom fishermen.
Cobia aren’t cruising the beaches and following bait balls like they were a few weeks back, but anglers are picking up decent numbers at structure 5-40 miles out.
Dolphin have begun to move inshore from the Gulf Stream, and anglers connected with them as close as 10 miles off the inlet last week.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been decking some sea mullet, spot, croaker, and bluefish on shrimp and other baits.
More bluefish and some spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and other lures worked from the pier.
