Pamlico August 25, 2011
Barbara Fodge with a flounder she caught at the Atlantic Beach bridge while fishing with her fiance David Styron.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the giant red drum action in the Pamlico River and Sound is still the area’s big fishing news. Anglers are connecting with the big reds while chumming and fishing large cut baits around shoals, oyster rocks, and drop-offs in the sound and river. Whole mullet with their belly cavities split and scores in their sides make the best chum, and mullet also make the best hook baits as their tough skin stays on the hook. However, baits such as menhaden, spot, croaker, and other fish will get the job done as well.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite is getting better. Anglers are connecting with the flatfish in North Creek, Pungo Creek, Rose Bay, around Swan Quarter, and in other spots in the area. White Gulp shrimp have been producing most of the fish, but anglers are also hooking up on live finger mullet when they can find them.
More speckled trout are beginning to show up (though most are on the small side). Anglers are primarily picking them up while flounder fishing.
The “old” citation-class red drum have moved into the river, and anglers are connecting with them while fishing large chunks of cut baits around drop-offs and shoals in the area.
Some tarpon were also seen and hooked in the river last week, and large cut baits are the way to go for them as well.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the big red drum fishing in the Neuse River has been excellent lately. There’s been a solid bite in the mornings, tapering off around 11:00 am and picking back up later in the afternoons and evenings. Large cut baits fished on Owen Lupton drum rigs around shoals, drop-offs, and other bottom structure are the places to look for the citation-class drum.
There’s been a significant improvement in the trout action along the Neuse over the past week (with plenty of small fish but some 16-18” in the mix). Soft plastic baits and MR17 MirrOlures are fooling the fish (with the MR17’s getting the nod from the larger specks).
Kim Stewart with a citation red drum she caught and released after it bit a chunk of mullet on an Owen Lupton drum rig. She was fishing the Neuse River near Oriental with her husband Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters.
Flounder fishing is still decent for anglers casting Gulp baits around the river shorelines and docks, with some of the best action reported from Deep Creek last week.
Croaker fishing is heating up in deeper holes near the shorelines, and good numbers of pigfish have been mixed in. Double hook rigs baited with shrimp, squid, or other baits will fool the bottom feeders.
Belinda, of Custom Marine, reports that the large red drum fishing is on in the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. Anglers are hooking the big reds on cut baits fished around depth changes and other bottom structure.
Some tarpon were also seen and hooked in the Neuse River last week. The same tactics anglers use for big reds will tempt bites from the tarpon if anglers are lucky enough to be fishing in the right spot.
