Morehead City August 13, 2009
Chris Batsavage, of Morehead City, with a pair of flounder (the larger one 8 lbs., 4 oz.) he hooked inshore at Morehead City on live pinfish. Weighed in at Freeman's Bait and Tackle.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are still hooking some fat flounder (5+ lbs.) around the port wall on live baits. More flatties are coming from beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge, near Radio Island, and the railroad tracks.
Some large gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks as well, and anglers are hooking the biggest ones around the start of the incoming tides on live finger mullet. Jigging Stingsilvers is producing good numbers of smaller grays.
The Haystacks and other marshes are still producing some excellent action with red drum, and a few speckled trout and flounder are in the mix as well. Live shrimp or finger mullet under popping corks and Gulp baits are producing most of the action.
The docks around the Core Creek Bridge have also been giving up good numbers of speckled trout and reds.
Anglers fishing live shrimp beneath lighted floats are hooking up with some big speckled trout beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge at night.
The bridges, port wall, railroad tracks, and other inshore structure are holding plenty of sheepshead. Fiddler crab and sea urchin baits fished tight to the structure are attracting attention from the sheeps.
Surf fishermen have found action with black drum, bluefish, spot, and some flounder lately, with the best bite around Fort Macon. Shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the action, and anglers are also catching some large pompano on sand fleas.
Some large spanish mackerel and small kings are still feeding around AR-315 and other nearshore structure, and anglers are hooking most of them while free-lining live finger mullet. The flounder bite has been good at the AR’s as well. Most of the flatfish are falling for finger mullet on Carolina rigs and bucktail/Gulp combinations.
Larger kings and more spanish have been feeding in the shipping channel, and both live pogies and dead cigar minnows are fooling them. Blue/white and pink skirts seem to be drawing the most bites.
More king mackerel and a few dolphin are looking for meals around the Big 10/Little 10 and NW Places. The majority of the larger dolphin are feeding further offshore between the 90’ Drop and the Big Rock.
J.T. Clarke, from Monroe, NC, with a 25" red drum he hooked on a Rapala Skitterwalk near Morehead City while fishing with Daniel Griffee.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are getting in on some decent spot runs around the Beaufort Bridge, with bloodworms the best baits.
Some gray trout and whiting are feeding in the turning basin and around deeper inshore structure.
The flounder bite has been good lately inshore (with anglers weighing in some fish in the 7-8 lb. range). Carolina-rigged live baits are fooling most of the flounder.
Sheepshead fishing has been excellent lately (with big numbers of fish and some 10+ lb. class fish in the mix). The port wall, bridges, and Fort Macon rocks have all been producing solid action with the sheeps, and fiddler crab and sea urchin baits are fooling them.
Anglers are catching good numbers of speckled trout around the bridges and in the creeks. Most of the specks are falling for live shrimp.
Surf and pier anglers have been finding a good bottom fish bite, landing spot, croaker, and whiting on shrimp and other baits.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding strong in the inlet and nearby. Anglers are hooking the larger spaniards on small live baits and while trolling larger than usual Drone Spoons.
The king bite has been on nearshore as well (with good numbers of fish to 30 lbs. reported lately). Live baits are fooling the kings.
Wally Walker, from Portage, IN, with an 18 lb. dolphin he hooked on a dead cigar minnow while fishing off New River Inlet.
Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that offshore the wahoo bite has turned on. Boats are hooking the ‘hoos while trolling skirted ballyhoo around the Big Rock and other Gulf Stream hotspots. Good numbers of sailfish have been feeding in the same areas.
Offshore bottom fishing in 120-150’ has been producing action with American red snapper, beeliners, and a host of other bottom dwellers.
Charles, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the king mackerel bite has been on at structure on the east side of Lookout Shoals and at spots like the NW Places west of the shoals (with fish to nearly 40 lbs. recently). Live pogies are the baits of choice for the kings.
Big sharks are feeding along the beaches, and anglers can hook them on pogies or cut baits.
Inshore, plenty of puppy drum are feeding on the flats in the bays.
The speckled trout bite has been on in the marshes of the Pamlico Sound and in the South River. D.O.A. jerkbaits are fooling the specks and the puppies.
Citation class red drum have shown up in the sound and the Neuse River. Fishing large cut baits on submerged humps and other structure will draw strikes from the big reds.
Tarpon are also feeding close by, and anglers have hooked some around Brant Island lately. Cut mullet, croakers, and spot are fooling the tarpon.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that the water’s clearing up and anglers are again hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while casting Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking some spot, croaker, and small flounder on shrimp.
