Swansboro June 14, 2012
Cameron and Carson Gombatz, of Raleigh, and Anna Mangum, of Wake Forest, NC, with a trip of 2-3 lb. sheepshead that bit live fiddler crabs at a bridge near Swansboro while they were fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Robbie, of Hall’em In Charters, reports that the red drum bite has slowed up, but anglers are still hooking a few upper and over-slot fish while working topwater plugs and lightly-weighted Gulp baits through the marshes.
Flounder are making up for the slower redfishing, and they’ve been feeding beneath docks and around other inshore structure (with good numbers of fish to 5 lbs.). Live bait on Carolina rigs and Gulps on jigheads or bucktails are top choices for the flounder inshore.
The flounder action around nearshore structure in the ocean has been excellent as well, and 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are the way to go for the flatfish in the ocean.
Black drum and sheepshead are looking for meals beneath the Swansboro-area bridges. Anglers are hooking plenty of both fish while dangling live fiddler crabs against the spans’ pilings.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the ocean flounder bite is going strong (with good numbers of 4-5 lb. fish) at nearshore live bottoms, wrecks, and reefs. Plenty of black sea bass are feeding in the same areas. Live baits on Carolina rigs will attract attention from both, but Gulp-tipped bucktails are a better choice, as plenty of aggressive smaller fish will destroy the live baits in short order.
Anglers are also catching plenty of flounder inshore around docks and in the channels. Smaller bucktail/Gulp combos, Gulps on plain jigheads, and Carolina-rigged live baits will all produce results on the flatfish inshore.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure inshore. Anglers can hook plenty of the striped fish while dangling live fiddler crabs tight to the structure.
Andy Yearman and Davis Aiken, of Danville, VA, with a 43 lb. bull dolphin that struck a skirted Bionic Ballyhoo at the Big Rock. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that offshore bottom fishing has been red-hot lately. Targeting structure in the 100-150’ depths has been producing limits of red and gag grouper, black sea bass, beeliners, triggerfish, and more. Squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and cut baits will all attract attention from the bottom feeders, and anglers can also hook up while working vertical jigs.
Surf casters are connecting with some big sharks while paddling and casting large cut baits out from the beach at night. Lemons, tigers, blacktips, and more have been taking the baits, sometimes within 50 yards of the shoreline.
A few red drum are also feeding along the beachfront and taking an interest in shrimp, finger mullet, and cut baits.
Inshore, red drum are feeding in the marshes, where anglers can target them with topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live baits.
Flounder fishing has been good around dock pilings in the ICW. Small live baits on Carolina rigs or Gulp-tipped bucktails will fool the flatfish.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that plug casters are connecting with good numbers of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with spot and sea mullet, with a better bite at night. Shrimp on double-bottom rigs are producing most of the fish.
