Morehead City April 24, 2014
Dickie and David Maynor, of Selma and Coats, NC, with a black drum and a pair of slot red drum they hooked on shrimp while fishing the Atlantic Beach surf.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that sea mullet have moved into the turning basin in numbers, and many anglers are hooking triple-digit numbers of the tasty panfish between there and Beaufort Inlet. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp are producing most of the fish and also fooling plenty of gray trout in the same areas.
Red drum are feeding along Lookout Shoals (upper to over-slot). They’re schooled up and biting a variety of lures voraciously, but Gulp baits are hard to beat.
Some chopper bluefish are also feeding around the Cape, with a few at Fort Macon, and anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs.
Speckled trout are feeding in Core Creek and off the Neuse River, and anglers are catching and releasing big numbers on MR17 MirrOlures, Paul Brown Soft Dines, and topwater plugs.
Surf casters are seeing some red and black drum, sea mullet, and bluefish along the shores of Atlantic Beach.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still going when boats get the weather to make the run (with good numbers of fish 60+ lbs. at present). The fish have been spread out along the break from the Big Rock to past the Swansboro Hole, and they’re biting ballyhoo under large skirted lures.
Stephen Woodland and Brie Wheaton with a pair of fat black sea bass they hooked on squid while bottom fishing in 120′ of water off Beaufort Inlet. Photo courtesy of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing big catches of triggerfish, black sea bass, beeliners, and more. There’s also a good showing of grouper for the opening of the season on May 1.
Offshore bottom fishermen have been encountering strong numbers of cobia at structure in 100’ and deeper, an excellent sign for the cobia season to come.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of sea mullet and gray trout in the turning basin right now, with the best action by the fuel docks on Radio Island. Spec and bottom rigs baited with shrimp and squid are attracting plenty of attention from both.
Surf casters are hooking a mixed bag of bottomfish including sea mullet, pigfish, croaker, spot, puffers, and more. Shrimp and squid on double-drop rigs are attracting the panfish.
Some red drum are also feeding in the surf zone and biting squid.
Anthony Pearson with a red drum that fell for a Zoom soft plastic near Swansboro while he was fishing with Capt. Stukie Payne of Carolina Backwater Charters.
Schools of slot and over-slot reds are working the shoals at Cape Lookout, and anglers who find the schools are hooking them on a variety of soft and hard baits.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are connecting with beeliners, triggerfish, black sea bass, grunts, and more. There have also been a large number of cobia reported in the 30 mile range, and those fish should be making their way toward the beaches over the coming month.
Blue water trollers are connecting with good numbers of wahoo and some blackfin tuna while pulling skirted ballyhoo along the break.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that false albacore are schooled up 10-15 miles off Beaufort Inlet. Anglers can search for working birds or fish feeding on the surface, and then work small casting lures around the activity to hook up.
Flounder should be making an appearance around bottom structure in the same range. Bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails along the bottom is the way to connect with the flatfish.
Offshore, anglers are seeing good numbers of cobia around structure in the 140-180’ range while bottom fishing and jigging. The fish will be moving towards the beaches as the water continues to warm over the coming weeks, and the good showing offshore should indicate a good season to come around Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout.
Inshore, there was some solid speckled and gray trout action in Core and Adams creeks before last week’s rains, so there should still be some fish in those areas.
Thomas, of Dancin’ Outlaw Charters, reports that the Morehead fleet has found some excellent wahoo action lately when the weather’s let them get offshore. The best bite has been to the south of the Big Rock in around 40 fathoms of water. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the fish, and they are also attracting attention from a few blackfin tuna and dolphin in the area.
