Pamlico – March 24, 2016
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that the recent warm weather has kicked the striped bass bite into high gear as the fish prepare for their spawning run up river.
Many of the fish that anglers were catching the past few weeks are moving in waves up the Pamlico and Neuse rivers. The fish are still feeding on their way upriver, and their appetites have only improved with the warming water. The stripers are feeding around drop-offs and structure such as stump beds, pilings, and docks. Scented plastics like Z-Man PaddlerZ and 4” DOA jerk shads bounced off the bottom on weighted hooks will get fish in the boat.
There is still a great shad bite in the lower Roanoke and Tar rivers, and anglers are hooking plenty of them on small spoons (like the Woo’s shad spoon) and grubs (like the Kalin’s Triple Threat 2” grub).
Further downriver around New Bern, there has been solid action with trout and redfish at the mouths of local feeder creeks. Suspending twitch baits and soft plastics are great choices for anyone targeting either species. As the water warms, anglers need to remember to work their baits slowly, especially on cooler days when fish are lethargic and reluctant to feed on fast moving baits.
Capt. James Holloway, of Neuse River Adventures in New Bern, with a striper he landed on a jig and artifical eel.
Richard, of TarPam Guide Service, reports that there has been a great white perch bite on the Pamlico River recently. This striper relative can be caught right alongside its larger cousin using similar baits. Anglers looking to connect with this delectable game fish can do so using small spinnerbaits fished around structure such as downed trees or stump beds or by using scented plastics like Gulp shrimp on jig heads near ledges.
The striped bass bite on the Pamlico River has also been great, with most days producing a limit of fish and then some. With the warm weather, anglers have been connecting on topwater baits like the Rapala Skitter Walk or a Top Dog Jr. fished near the shoreline. Suspending lures like the Rapala Shadow Rap can also be fished near the shoreline and will produce the best results on ledges with little structure for the hooks to foul on.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the striped bass population on the Neuse River has been scattered lately, as the fish are moving upriver to spawn. There are plenty of fish to be caught, but they are a little harder to find recently in comparison to earlier in the year. Most of the fish are being caught upriver of New Bern on soft plastics, with the DOA TerrorEyz putting plenty of fish in the boat.
The red drum bite on the lower Neuse River hasn’t taken off just yet, but some anglers are finding action on sunny days at areas with patchy seagrass and shallow mud flats. There have been a few speckled trout mixed in with the drum, including some 2-3 lb. fish. Soft plastics rigged weedless on weighted hooks have been providing most of the bites, and anglers shouldn’t count out a suspending twitch bait like a MirrOlure 17MR to produce bites.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that the striped bass bite on the Pamlico River remains consistent, with many days resulting in 30-40 fish. Anglers looking to hook up with a striped bass on a fly rod should find plenty of action in the area using patterns such as the sand eel, Clouser Minnow, or banana squid. Fishing drop-offs and heavy structure is the best way to target these hungry fish as they move upriver to spawn.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding plenty of striped bass in the Pamlico River near Washington. Many of these fish are being taken on hard baits such as Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogues and soft plastics like the Z-Man PaddlerZ and StreakZ on jig heads worked near the bottom.
There are still plenty of shad being caught on shad darts in smaller creeks that feed into the main river. Most of the shad action seems to be concentrated north of Washington in feeder creeks and tributaries.
