Morehead City Winter 2010
Derek GiPaolo and Tony May with American red snappers they hooked on cigar minnows while bottom fishing off Morehead City near the Big Rock on the "F/V Atlantic Runner."
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite is finally going strong throughout the area, and it should remain through the New Year and beyond. Inshore, anglers are finding action with the specks around the bluffs at Spooner’s Creek, the Atlantic Beach Bridge, the railroad tracks, around Radio Island, and in Core Creek (where the largest fish have been reported—some to 8+ lbs.).
The bite’s also heating up around the Cape Lookout rock jetty, and anglers are picking up a few fish in the surf as well.
Live shrimp and mud minnows, Gulp baits, other soft plastics, and a variety of MirrOlures are all producing action with the specks.
Anglers are also picking up plenty of bluefish, a few puppy drum, and tautog while trout fishing.
Stacy Lamb, from Atlantic Beach, with her first topwater red drum, a 30" fish she hooked in the marsh near Morehead City. She was fishing with her husband, Capt. Matt Lamb, of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Some gray trout are mixed in with the specks (particularly around the jetties), and anglers are catching even more of the grays in the deep water near the railroad tracks and inlet while bouncing Stingsilvers and Gulp baits off the bottom.
Pufferfish have moved into the area, and anglers are loading up coolers with the tasty bottom feeders around the rocks at Cape Lookout and Fort Macon on shrimp-baited bottom rigs.
Ocean bottom fishermen have been boxing up some fat sea bass around AR-315 on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and squid.
When the wind lays down enough for boats to make it offshore, the bass bite has also been hot around the 210 and 240 Rocks, where good numbers of gag grouper are also feeding.
Mark Smith, from Wilmington, with a red drum caught on cut mullet while fishing the Cape Lookout surf. He was fishing with his father, Richard Smith, and a Boy Scout troop from Fayetteville.
The wrecks and rocks east of Lookout Shoals are hosting some fantastic king mackerel fishing when it’s calm enough to get there. The fish have not only been numerous and hungry, they’ve been running big (with plenty of 30-40+ lb. smokers and fish to 59 lbs. weighed in over the past few weeks). Live and dead baits are both producing action with the big kings.
Bluefin tuna season is just around the corner, with a few fish already reported and more likely on the way. Trolling horse ballyhoo under heavy lures around bait and bottom structure 10-20 miles off the beaches is the way to hook up with one of these sea monsters.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the king mackerel bite east of Lookout Shoals has been excellent in recent weeks. Anglers are catching big numbers of 30+ lb. fish around bottom structure on the east side, and both dead cigar minnows and live pogies are drawing bites (and for the time being, there are still a decent number of pogies around). The king bite typically stays solid in the area for much of the winter.
John Ballou, of Morehead City, with a 47 lb. king mackerel he hooked on the east side of Lookout Shoals on a live pogy. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
The bluefin tuna bite east and west of the shoals is just getting started, with one fish landed so far. Horse ballyhoo beneath large, skirted trolling lures will attract bites from the tuna when anglers can find them.
Closer to the beaches, anglers are loading up coolers with whiting around the Dead Tree Hole in 40-45’ of water. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp will attract plenty of attention from the whiting.
Gray trout are on the feed in the inlet and around the Cape Lookout jetty. Live shrimp, Gulp baits, and Shore Lure Glass Minnows or other jigging lures will produce action with the grays.
The speckled trout bite has been up and down so far this season, with a few good days followed by a lackluster bite. Many of the fish are still inshore, but they’ve begun to feed at the Lookout jetty as well. Live shrimp and a variety of artificials are attracting attention from the trout (with most of the larger fish falling for shrimp).
The red drum bite inshore has been solid lately, with anglers reporting good action around the Middle Marshes and Haystacks. Live baits have been producing most of the red action lately.
Andy Williams, of Cape Carteret, NC, with a 37" red drum he hooked on a cut bait in the surf near the middle of Ocracoke Island.
Shane, of Fight N Lady, reports that the Gulf Stream bite is still excellent, with some double digit catches of wahoo riding back to the docks recently (most running 30-70 lbs.). The action’s been best to the south around the Swansboro Hole, and the fish are falling for ballyhoo beneath Blue Water Candy Witches and Mini-Jags.
There are still some excellent numbers of sailfish around as well, and one boat tallied 8 releases last week.
Bluefin tuna season is just beginning, and anglers interested in pursuing one of the giants should inquire about a makeup trip aboard the boat.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the water temperature is still a bit warm for the big speckled trout to show up at the Lookout jetty, but they’ll begin making an appearance as it falls into the low 50’s. Once they show up, anglers can hook them while casting suspending hard baits near the rocks.
Puppy drum are feeding in the surf zone and around the inlets, with good numbers of fish still in the inshore creeks as well. Anglers are finding action with the pups while casting live shrimp and mud minnows, Gulp baits, other soft plastics, and suspending MirrOlures and Rapalas.
