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 Fish Post

Morehead City June 21, 2012

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Don Bierwaltes, of Kinston, NC, with a gag grouper he hooked while fishing offshore of Beaufort Inlet with Capt. Terrell Gould on the headboat "Carolina Princess."

Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still solid in the area, with the best catches coming from around Cape Lookout and to the west near the Sheraton Pier recently. Clarkspoons (the smaller the better) behind #1 planers are taking most of the fish.

There are still a few cobia around the area, with anglers reporting decent numbers of encounters with smaller fish (20-30 lbs.) inshore in the area recently. Live and dead menhaden fished on the bottom have been producing the hookups.

Bottom fishermen are still catching some sea mullet around Cape Lookout, as well as some pigfish, gray trout, mullet, and spot around Beaufort Inlet and the turning basin.

The sheepshead action continues to be strong around inshore structure like bridge and dock pilings and the port wall (with most fish 1-4 lbs. but some to 6-7 in the mix). Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are producing most of the action.

Flounder are still feeding at the nearshore reefs like AR-315, 320, and 330, where anglers are hooking big numbers (with fish to 5 lbs.) on 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.

Inshore, anglers are finding flatfish action at the bridges and other structure. Smaller bucktail/Gulp combos or live baits like mud minnows on Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the flatties inshore.

Some speckled trout are feeding in the Haystacks, where anglers caught a few keepers last week on live mud minnows and Gulp baits.

A few puppy drum have been turning up in Core Creek.

Offshore, bottom fishermen are still reporting excellent action with grouper, sea bass, amberjacks, and more, with the best luck at structure in the 30-35 mile range. Live baits or dead squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel are top choices for the tasty bottom dwellers.

Gulf Stream anglers are finding a slower dolphin bite, but still bringing home decent numbers while trolling spots like the 90’ Drop, Big Rock, and Rise. Some wahoo and billfish are mixed in, and all are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.

 

Michael Odem, of Goldsboro, NC, with a 5.57 lb. flounder that bit a 2 oz. Spro bucktail with a Gulp shrimp at AR-320 off Beaufort Inlet. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.

Paul, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that there’s been an excellent flounder bite around the rocks at Fort Macon lately, with live mud minnows fooling the majority of the fish (many keepers to 16-18”).

Larger flatfish are feeding at the nearshore reefs, where anglers are hooking them on Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.

There’s been good puppy drum action in Core Sound near Drum Inlet, with live shrimp, mud minnows, and a variety of artificials all producing results.

Cobia have shown up inshore in Bogue Sound, and anglers are hooking decent numbers about halfway between Beaufort and Bogue Inlets.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent lately in 20-40’ of water off Beaufort Inlet, where silver #0 Clarkspoons have been the baits of choice lately.

Bottom fishermen are reporting stellar grouper and black sea bass fishing at offshore rocks and ledges. Squid, cigar minnows, and mackerel are all producing action with the bottom feeders.

The scattered grass offshore of the area has consolidated into weedlines and patches, and it is producing some good gaffer and bailer dolphin fishing for boats making the run to the blue water.

 

Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that that there was a solid blue marlin bite during the Big Rock tournament, with lots of releases tallied by boats trolling large marlin plugs in deep water along the break.

The gaffer and bailer dolphin bite has been good around weedlines north of the Big Rock over the past few days, with an occasional wahoo in the mix. Ballyhoo under sea witches are fooling the ‘phins and wahoo.

 

Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that flounder have moved inshore, and anglers are hooking good numbers in The Drain at Cape Lookout and along the marsh edges in the North River, Middle Marsh, and elsewhere. Gulp shrimp and other soft plastics on jigheads will tempt bites from the flatfish.

Speckled trout are feeding around the North River and Harkers Island bridges and along the back side of Core Banks. Soft plastic baits and live mud minnows are fooling most of the fish, and the bite’s been best in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs are also producing results in the early mornings at the sloughs behind Core Banks.

Jack Tanner and John Overton with red drum that bit cut pinfish near Morehead City while they were fishing with Capt. Dave Dietzler of Cape Lookout Charters.

Puppy drum are feeding in the inlets and marshes, and they will bite soft plastics as well.

Spanish mackerel are feeding strong around Cape Lookout, and anglers can tempt them to bite soft plastics on heavier jigheads or metal casting jigs.

It’s time for king mackerel to show up at the AR’s off the Cape, and menhaden have arrived in force, so it shouldn’t be long.

Anglers can also expect dolphin to begin moving closer in to spots like the Northwest Places, Barge Wreck, Sea Buoy, and spots east of the shoals as June wears on.

Tarpon should also be passing over Lookout Shoals in the coming weeks, and anglers who are lucky enough to spot a pod of the fish may be able to hook up with the “silver kings” on live spot, croaker, or menhaden.

 

Stephen, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.

Some spot, pigfish, and small sharks are falling for shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs.