Added on Tuesday, August 12, 2008  Gary Hurley

Morehead City August 14, 2008

Tim, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that red drum, speckled trout, and some flounder are still feeding in the Haystacks, the Middle Marsh, Back Creek, and Core Creek. Live mud minnows, shrimp, and finger mullet are the best baits to attract strikes from all three, and anglers are also hooking fish while casting Gulp baits and topwater plugs.

Speckled trout, bluefish, and ladyfish are also feeding beneath the Atlantic Beach Bridge, especially on the Atlantic Beach side. Live shrimp fished under slip floats are drawing them to bite.

The Morehead side of the bridge has been hosting some solid gray trout action. Stingsilvers, Tsunami glass minnows, and green grubs are attracting attention from the grays. Anglers are also hooking gray trout around the railroad tracks.

The sheepshead bite is still going strong around the port wall and the bridges. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and sea urchins are fooling the sheeps.

Flounder fishing has been good at the port wall and bridges as well, and anglers are hooking flatfish around Shackleford and at AR-315 and AR-320. Carolina-rigged live baits are fooling the flounder.

Spadefish are schooled up on the AR’s, too, and anglers can hook up with them while fishing pieces of jelly ball.

Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and just offshore, and boats are hooking up with them while trolling Clark and Drone spoons, with gold spoons working best.

Larger spanish (up to 6 lbs.) and some king mackerel are chasing bait around the AR’s, and slow trolling small live baits will attract their attention.

The biggest kings are feeding at spots on the east side of Lookout Shoals like the 1700 Rock and the Atlas Tanker. Live mullet and cigar minnows, as well as dead cigar minnows, are enticing bites from the kings.

Bottom fishing has been good to the east as well, with boats landing gag grouper and triggerfish on cigar minnows while fishing ledges and other structure. The 210 and 240 Rocks are also producing some solid bottom action.

Trollers have been finding some action with sailfish and wahoo (up to 80 lbs.) between the 90′ Drop and the Big Rock. Skirted ballyhoo are drawing the strikes.

 

Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking up with good numbers of spanish mackerel and school kings a few miles off the beach. Trolled Clarkspoons and squid rigs are producing plenty of action, but anglers can hook up with the larger macks by fishing small live pogies.

A 44 lb. king was caught in the Beaufort Inlet shipping channel last week, and anglers are also catching plenty of kings on the east side of the shoals. Live pogies or other baits are top choices for the kings.

The AR’s are holding plenty of amberjacks for anglers looking for a tough battle. Live pogies will get their attention.

Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been good in the marshes of the Newport River.

The sheepshead action is still solid, but the average size has fallen a bit from a few weeks ago. Sea urchins, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans will tempt bites from the sheeps.

Anglers are hooking good numbers of flounder around the Coast Guard station and the port wall. Finger mullet and peanut pogies fished on Carolina rigs will attract attention from the flatfish.

Some gray trout are beginning to show up in the turning basin, and anglers are hooking them while jigging spec rigs tipped with shrimp.

 

Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the Gulf Stream has been a little slow lately, giving up a few wahoo, some small dolphin, and an occasional sailfish.

The bite has been a bit better inshore, where anglers are finding action with king mackerel, dolphin, and some sailfish in 50-60′ of water. Rigged ballyhoo under skirted lures will attract attention from all the fish.

Amberjacks are holding on structure in the same depth range, and they will readily strike jigging lures.

 

Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel.

Bottom fishermen are decking some spot, whiting, croaker, and hogfish. Shrimp are drawing the bites.

Anglers landed a decent number of flounder last week, with the largest weighing 4.5 lbs. Small live baits are producing the flatfish action.