Morehead City August 2, 2012
Marc Gottlieb, of Raleigh, with a 12 lb., 11 oz. dolphin that bit a ballyhoo near the Northwest Places while he was trolling on the "Katelyn James."
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are connecting with scattered speckled trout and puppy drum in the Haystacks marshes, with more action around the docks and marshes off Core Creek. Live shrimp on float rigs are tempting most of the bites from both, but anglers can also cast Gulps and other artificial baits with success.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the bridges, port wall, and other structure inshore, and live sea urchins and fiddler crabs will attract their attention.
Flounder fishing remains solid inshore, with anglers hooking the flatfish around the local bridges, docks, and port wall, drifting in the channels, and around the Cape Lookout jetty. Live finger mullet and mud minnows or Gulp baits will tempt bites from the flatfish.
The flounder bite remains solid at the nearshore AR’s and other structure, where a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a Gulp bait is the best bet for flatfish action in the ocean.
Large (4-5+ lbs.) spanish mackerel are feeding around the same structure as the flatfish, and they’ll take an interest in small menhaden or finger mullet on scaled-down king mackerel rigs.
Smaller spanish and plenty of bluefish are feeding in the inlets and along the beachfront, and Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 planers will tempt plenty of bites from both.
Bottom fishermen are reporting some excellent grouper action at bottom structure around the Northwest Places and the 14 Buoy, with cigar minnows and menhaden producing most of the fish.
The dolphin bite is still best between the 14 Buoy and 90’ Drop, with a few fish scattered further inshore. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are producing most of the ‘phins.
A decent wahoo bite also materialized around the Rise last week, and skirted ballyhoo are tempting bites from the wahoo as well.
Michael, of Freeman’s Tackle, reports that anglers saw a solid billfish bite over the past weekend, with boats releasing good numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin. Naked and skirted ballyhoo and baitless trolling plugs are accounting for the majority of the billfish action.
There was also a good wahoo bite a few days ago around the east side of the Big Rock.
Dolphin are feeding inshore of the Gulf Stream, with fish reported around the Big 10/Little 10 and Northwest Places last week.
Some king mackerel are showing up in the same areas, and both the kings and dolphin will bite live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the inlet and along the beachfront, and boaters are hooking big numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons.
Gema Cruz, of Richlands, NC, with a 24" red drum that struck a live mullet at Fort Macon.
Inshore, there’s been a decent puppy drum bite around the Fort Macon rocks, with cut baits producing most of the fish.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around docks and bridge pilings and other hard structure in the area. Live fiddler crabs will tempt bites from the sheeps.
The bridges, port wall, and other inshore structure are also hosting plenty of flounder, and live mud minnows will get attention from the flatfish.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the citation-class “old” drum have shown up in force around the Pamlico Sound and the mouth of the Neuse River. Anglers are hooking a few on light tackle when they spot the schools chasing bait on the surface, but the time-tested method of catching the big fish involves bottom fishing with large chunks of mullet, menhaden, spot, and other oily baits. Oyster rocks, shoal edges, and depth changes are the places to target with the bottom baits.
Anglers are still seeing plenty of speckled trout around Cedar Island, Turnagain Bay, and nearby spots in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs and soft plastics like Brown Lures will tempt bites from the specks and will also attract attention from puppy drum and flounder feeding in the same areas.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that there’s still a decent summer wahoo bite out there, with most of the fish feeding along the break in 30-40 fathoms of water.
Sailfish and white marlin have also been providing action for blue water trollers, with the best bite in the 100-150 fathom depths.
Bailer dolphin are mixed in with the other offshore predators, and all are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
