Morehead City June 24, 2010
Keith Bell and Pat Renfro with a pair of cobia (out of 34 they caught) that they hooked while sight-casting bucktails near Cape Lookout with Wayne Register and Capt. George Beckwith of Downeast Guide Service.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout and red drum action is still solid in the area’s marshes, especially the Haystacks. Anglers are also picking up some specks and reds in Core and Bell creeks and the Newport River around the Cross Rock. Live shrimp and mud minnows or Gulp baits under popping corks have been producing the lion’s share of the action.
A few flounder are in the mix in the marshes, and anglers are catching more and bigger flatties around the port wall, the railroad tracks, the Coast Guard station, the inlets, and out at AR-315 and 320 in the ocean. Live mud minnows, tiger-side minnows, or finger mullet are producing most of the fish inside, and 2 oz. Spro bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are fooling the ocean fish.
Gray trout are feeding around the railroad tracks and the Atlantic Beach Bridge, where they’ll take an interest in green grubs or Stingsilvers and other metal jigs. A few specks are starting to show at the AB Bridge for anglers fishing live shrimp under floats, especially at night.
The sheepshead bite remains strong around the railroad tracks, the bridges, and the port wall, and fiddler crabs and sea urchins are the top baits.
Anglers trolling gold and silver Clarkspoons along the beaches are still enjoying solid spanish mackerel and bluefish catches, both towards Cape Lookout and Atlantic Beach.
The king mackerel bite has been excellent in the shipping channel lately, with decent numbers of cobia and some big (5-6 lbs.) spanish mackerel mixed in. Both live-baiting with pogies and spanish sardines or pulling dead cigar minnows will fool the fish.
Some dolphin have moved in as close as the sea buoy, but anglers are finding better catches around the 14 Buoy on out to the 90’ Drop (with the largest fish furthest offshore). Most of the fish are falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen in the same areas are landing some solid gag grouper, triggerfish, and other species. Bucktails tipped with Gulps and squid or cut-bait on bottom rigs are attracting plenty of attention from the bottom dwellers.
Nick Johnson, from Beaufort, with a dolphin caught while trolling skirted ballyhoo 45 miles out of Beaufort Inle on the "Marlin Fever" with Capt. Gene Ward.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that offshore anglers are still catching plenty of dolphin, but the average size is coming down, with most fish slingers and the occasional gaffer in the mix. Consequently, most anglers have downgraded to small ballyhoo for the best results.
A few dolphin have moved in as far as the shipping channel and along the beaches, where anglers even landed some while trolling Clarkspoons for spanish last week.
The spanish mackerel bite is still excellent with plenty of bluefish mixed in.
King mackerel are feeding along the beaches and in the shipping channel, and anglers are hooking them while trolling both live and dead baits.
The flounder action is still solid on the nearshore reefs and ledges. Both live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails are fooling the flatties.
Inshore, anglers are catching some large sheepshead (with fish to 12 lbs. weighed in last week). The fish are coming from the port wall and the area bridges, and sea urchins are fooling the largest sheeps.
Surprisingly, there’s been a good speckled trout bite in the rivers and creeks lately, with most of the fish falling for live shrimp.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that the dolphin bite is still incredible offshore, though the fish have gotten a bit smaller lately. The best action’s been around weed lines in 60-150 fathoms, and ballyhoo under blue/white and pink Blue Water Candy Witches and Jags are fooling plenty of the fish. Decent numbers of billfish, especially white marlin, have been in the mix lately, and a few wahoo are still around.
Mary Garside (age 9), from Raliegh, with a 27", 6.5 lb. red drum that fell for cut mullet in the Atlantic Beach surf. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that anglers are landing excellent numbers of king mackerel and some big spanish (7-8 lbs.) while slow-trolling live baits around structure west of Cape Lookout Shoals. Some peanut dolphin are trickling in to the area, too.
Inshore, the puppy drum bite is still excellent in the marshes, with a few speckled trout thrown in. Cut pogies are one of the best baits to fool the reds.
Tarpon are beginning to show up in the Pamlico Sound, and it won’t be long until that fishery is in full swing.
Tanya, of Oceanana Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas from the pier lately.
Bottom fishing has been a little slow.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish action has been as hot as the weather lately. Most of the fish are falling for red-head Gotcha plugs during the evening hours.
Bottom fishermen are catching good numbers of keeper flounder on small live baits, and some spot and pigfish on shrimp.
