Morehead City July 26, 2012
Leighann Jackson, of Newport, NC, with a 36" king mackerel that bit a Stretch 25 at AR-330.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the southwest winds have kept many anglers out of the ocean over the past week, but those who’ve gone are still finding spanish mackerel feeding from the Sheraton Pier out to AR-315, with the best luck wherever anglers can find clean water. Trolled Clarkspoons are producing most of the fish and are also fooling some snake king mackerel, so anglers should be careful to positively ID any smaller mackerels before putting them in the fish box.
Some larger kings have been reported around the sea buoy and on out to spots like the Northwest Places. Live baits or dead cigar minnows are the way to go for the kingfish.
The flounder bite is still going on the nearshore reefs when anglers can make it out to the fish. Gulp baits pinned to 2 oz. bucktails are the way to go for the flatfish in the ocean.
Offshore reports are few and far between due to the wind, but when anglers can make the journey to the blue water, they can expect to find some action with dolphin and wahoo along with a few sailfish. Skirted ballyhoo are tempting most of the bites from the offshore gamefish, and anglers may find action anywhere from the 14 Buoy on out to the Big Rock.
Flounder fishing is still solid inside, with anglers catching good numbers of fish while drifting the channels behind Shackleford and along the ICW. Larger, but fewer fish are coming from structure like the port wall and bridge and dock pilings in the area. Live mud minnows and finger mullet are top choices for the flatfish inside, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps on jigs or Carolina rigs.
Sheepshead have been providing reliable action lately, as anglers can target them in areas protected from the winds. The port wall, bridge and dock pilings, and other hard structure inshore are the places to look for the sheeps, and live fiddler crabs or sea urchins will tempt them to bite.
Not much has been going on in the surf lately due to the rough conditions, but anglers are hooking some red and black drum, sheepshead, and flounder around the Fort Macon rocks. Live baits, shrimp, and Gulps will get attention from all those species.
Paul, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that it’s been a bit rough to fish the ocean lately, but anglers are still hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling inside the inlet and behind Shackleford.
Some red drum are feeding around the rocks near the Coast Guard station, where they’ll take an interest in live and cut baits.
Austin Parks, of Lexington, NC, with an 8.19 lb. sheepshead that bit a live sea urchin at the Morehead port wall. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Bottom fishing inshore and in the surf is producing a summertime mixed bag of croaker, spot, pigfish, and other panfish. Shrimp and bloodworms will tempt them all to bite.
There’s been a good sheepshead bite around hard structure inshore lately, with some of the best action last week around the Beaufort drawbridge. Live fiddler crabs are the way to go for the sheeps.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers are still seeing some decent speckled trout action around the Pamlico Sound and the mouth of the Neuse River. The fish are feeding along sloughs and shorelines in the area and will bite suspending MirrOlures, soft plastics like Brown Lures, and often topwater plugs in the early morning hours.
Puppy drum and flounder are feeding along many of the same shorelines, and cut and live baits will tempt bites from both.
Large drum are feeding on schools of menhaden in the Pamlico Sound, but they’re tough to find when it’s windy. On calm days, searching for fish feeding on menhaden on the surface will lead anglers to the schools, where bucktail jigs and topwater plugs will tempt the fish to bite.
When it’s blowing, targeting ledges and rocks with large cut baits is the way to tempt bites from the reds.
Tarpon are in many of the same areas and will also take an interest in dead and cut baits on the bottom.
Anita, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish on bottom rigs and metal lures like Gotcha plugs that they’re working from the pier.
Some smaller sea mullet, croaker, spot, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs near the pier.
