Morehead City July 1, 2010
Pat Murphy and Mikey Pollard, of Marshallberg, NC, with a 70 lb. cobia they hooked off of Cape Lookout on a live pogy.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been best recently in the late evenings and early mornings. The action’s been spread out along the beaches and out around AR-315 and 320. Clarkspoons, mackerel trees, and bird/squid rigs have been producing the most fish, along with Gotcha plugs when the schools are feeding on top. The largest spanish lately have been falling for live pogies and mullet around the AR’s.
The flounder bite is still excellent around the reefs as well, and most of the flatfish are falling for 2 oz. Spro bucktails with 4” Gulp bait trailers.
King mackerel are showing up at the AR’s and around the shipping channel and NW Places (most 10-15 lbs. with a few larger fish mixed in). Cigar minnows on dead bait rigs are producing the lion’s share of the king action, with ribbonfish and live pogies also drawing bites.
The dolphin bite is still on offshore, with good reports from as close in as the NW Places. Larger ‘phins have been coming from the 14 Buoy, 90’ Drop, the Rise, and the Big Rock. Anglers who can find solid weedlines in that area have been able to put together some impressive catches recently. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Witches and cigar minnows on dead bait rigs have been producing most of the action with the ‘phins.
A few sailfish and white and blue marlin have been mixed in around the Big Rock.
Inshore, the flounder bite’s been on around the inlets, the high-rise bridges, ICW docks, the port wall, and area marshes. Live mud minnows, Gulps, and squid strips on flounder rigs have all been effective on the flatties recently.
Sheepshead are still feeding along the port wall, the high-rise bridges, and area docks. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, clams, and sea urchins are all attracting attention from the sheeps.
The speckled trout bite is still a bit slow, but anglers are hooking a few in the creeks on the backside of the Haystacks.
Red drum fishing has been up-and-down lately, but the fish are feeding in most of the marsh areas from Swansboro up to Morehead. Marsh points and oyster bars have been the most productive places to look for the reds lately, and they’re falling for topwater baits, spinnerbaits, and scented soft plastic baits. Live mud minnows and cut mullet and pogies are drawing plenty of bites for anglers who don’t want to throw artificials.
William Collins, from Lexington, NC, with a 45 lb. dolphin he hooked near the 90' Drop on a ballyhoo behind a Blue Water Candy Witch.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite is still solid inside. Anglers are catching good numbers of fish in the marshes and while drifting the inlets and the channels behind Shackleford. Larger fish (but smaller numbers) are coming from deeper water around the port and the bridges. Live finger mullet, mud minnows, and pogies are all attracting attention from the flounder.
The speckled trout bite has been decent along ICW docks lately (good numbers of 15-16” fish), with most of the fish falling for live mud minnows that anglers are fishing for flounder.
Boats are still catching good numbers of spanish mackerel when the weather lets them get out (but they’re running smaller than in previous weeks). Trolling Clarkspoons and other lures is the way to hook up with the spaniards.
Anglers are seeing some tarpon moving along the beaches and around Lookout Shoals, but it’s difficult to get them to bite. The bite should turn on in the Pamlico Sound soon, however.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are putting together some solid catches of spot and whiting on shrimp.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the dolphin bite is still on fire, with limit catches many days.
Some blue and white marlin are mixed in with the ‘phins, and most of the action’s been around the Big Rock lately.
Trolling ballyhoo under pink/white and blue/white Blue Water Candy lures has been producing most of the action.
Chrissy Justice with a 20" speckled trout she hooked in the Haystacks marshes while fishing with her husband Wayne.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still solid along the beaches and even inshore around the Coast Guard Station. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the spaniards.
Some cobia are still around inshore, and anglers are hooking them on dead baits fished on the bottom.
Offshore, the dolphin fishing remains excellent, and some blue marlin have been in the mix as well. The best action’s been in 30-50 fathoms lately, particularly around any weedlines or isolated grass patches that anglers can find. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are drawing most of the bites in the blue water.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are finding some action with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas from the planks.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits are hooking black drum, croaker, and some small flounder.
