Morehead City July 19, 2007
Matt, of Chasin Tails Outdoors, reports that flounder fishing is solid right now, with good catches of flatfish coming from Drum Inlet, Cape Lookout, the Port Wall, the High Rise Bridges, AR315, and AR320. Carolina-rigged mud minnows are producing plenty of bites from the flatfish, and anglers are also hooking up on Gulp-tipped bucktails.
Red drum are on the feed around oyster bars and in the grass at higher tides. Many of the fish are rats, but there are some nice slot-sized fish around as well. Gulp shrimp, crabs, and jerkbaits are producing most of the drum, and they’re all working well on jigheads and float rigs.
The drum are also hitting topwater plugs, especially Skitter Walks and Zara Spooks.
Speckled trout fishing has been good. Anglers aren’t catching huge numbers of specks, but the average size has been very good. Live mud minnows are fooling most of the trout, but they’ll respond well to Gulp baits as well.
The port wall and high rise bridges are holding plenty of sheepshead. Fiddler crabs and sea urchins are the top baits.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been hit-or-miss, with some boats putting together good catches early in the mornings by trolling Clarkspoons and bird/squid rigs. Larger spanish are striking live pogies fished in the Beaufort Shipping Channel.
King mackerel are feeding in the inlet and at nearshore structure. Most are snakes, but there are a few bigger fish (up to 30 lbs.) around as well. Live pogies and cigar minnows are fooling most of the kings.
Dolphin are feeding around the R14, and there are some fish closer in around the NW places and Big 10/Little 10. A few sails are feeding along with dolphin.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore flounder fishing is steady. Several 5+ lb. flounder were weighed in over the course of the week. The larger flounder are coming from the deeper channels near the North River and the Turning Basin. Anglers are putting together bigger numbers of flounder in the shallow channels behind Shackleford and the ICW. Carolina-rigged mud minnows and Gulp baits on jigheads are the top flounder producers.
The sheepshead bite has gotten hot, and anglers landed “convict fish” weighing up to 14 lbs. recently. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs are producing plenty of sheepshead, but sea urchins are fooling the largest fish.
Anglers are catching large numbers of speckled trout at night around lighted docks and bridges. The Morehead side of the high rise bridge has hosted particularly hot trout fishing lately. The trout are showing an interest in a variety of baits including live shrimp, mud minnows, and Gulps.
Puppy drum are feeding in the marshes, but the bite hasn’t been spectacular this week.
Surf fishermen are catching a typical summertime mixed bag of drum, whiting, pompano, and other bottom feeders.
Spanish mackerel fishing is spotty right now, but boats are still catching a few.
Some cobia (including a 76 lb. one weighed this week) are still around the Hook of Cape Lookout.
Tarpon have shown up around the Hook, so the Pamlico tarpon bite is just around the corner.
The king bite has slowed down a bit, but there are still some kings feeding in the shipping channel. Most of the fish are snake-sized.
Boats are finding a few dolphin around the sea buoy, NW Places, Big 10/Little 10, and AR315. One boat caught several peanut dolphin while dragging Clarkspoons for spanish mackerel.
Ken, of Swell Rider Charters, reports that plenty of kings are feeding on the ARs off Beaufort Inlet, at the NW Places, and at the Big 10/Little 10. Drone Spoons, Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, live baits, and small ballyhoo are all producing kings, with the larger fish hitting ballyhoo and live baits.
A few dolphin are mixed in with the kings, and they’re showing a preference for the ballyhoo.
Willis, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking pompano, whiting, and spots while fishing with shrimp.
Flounder (up to 4 lbs.) are hitting small live baits fished on the bottom.
Plug casters are hooking up with a few bluefish.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pier’s pilings, and anglers are landing 2 lb. class fish on sea urchin baits.
