Pamlico June 13, 2013
Kevin Dewar, of Wilson, NC, with a speckled trout and a slot puppy drum that bit paddletail soft plastics while he was fishing near New Bern with Capt. D. Ashley King of Keep Castin’ Charters.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the New Bern area is producing some excellent fishing right now, with a fantastic early morning topwater bite for striped bass along the stumpy shorelines and other structure near town. Switching to deeper areas and soft plastics during the heat of the day will keep anglers in on the action.
Some red drum are also taking an interest in the topwater plugs in the area, and anglers are connecting with the reds on gold spoons and weedless soft plastic baits as well.
A few speckled trout are mixed in with the reds and stripers, but the trout bite hasn’t been red-hot.
Downriver, there’s been decent action after the recent storm with puppy drum, speckled trout, and an occasional flounder along the river shorelines past Oriental. Soft plastic baits like D.O.A. shrimp and CAL models on light jigheads are fooling all three of the inshore predators.
Big numbers of menhaden are schooled up on the Oriental side of the river, and it shouldn’t be long until anglers get some opportunities to cast artificials under popping corks at citation-class red drum shadowing the menhaden pods.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the winds and storm last week made fishing a bit tough.
Anglers are seeing an excellent topwater red drum and striped bass bite around New Bern in the early morning hours when the water is reasonably clean and high. Keying in on areas of structure is the best bet to hook up with both fish.
Kenny Campen with a speckled trout that bit a D.O.A. soft plastic near Oriental while he was fishing with Michael Carawan.
Once the weather moderates, the trout and puppy drum action downriver should get going again.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that the striped bass and red drum bite was excellent in the Neuse River near New Bern before last week’s tropical system moved through. Most of the fish were falling for topwater plugs, especially in the early morning hours, and anglers are starting to again see some topwater action post-storm. The bite should get right back on track as the weather stabilizes and the water clears, but until then anglers should use louder-than-usual topwaters to help fish home in on them in the murky river water.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are catching solid numbers of puppy and slot-sized red drum (along with a few speckled trout) while working shorelines and drop-offs in the Pamlico River. Popping cork rigs with soft plastics like Z-Man Shrimpz are producing much of the action.
One angler also landed a citation-class red drum on one of the popping cork rigs recently, so at least some of the giant reds are feeding in the estuary ahead of most people’s expectations.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the fishing action should be improving as the recent rains clear out of the area. The best bet for connecting with speckled trout and flounder right now is still around Bath, Swan Quarter, and in the Pungo River, as the fish were already moving towards the sound before the rain. Gulp baits are still most anglers’ go-tos for both fish.
