Pamlico – March 3, 2016
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that there has been a great striped bass bite despite the recent hard west winds. These fish are being caught in the Neuse River on deep ledges using soft baits like swim shads and jerk baits. The water is still quite cold, but as the water warms the fishing will improve greatly as fish move up the river to spawn.
Todd Willis, owner of Neuse River Bait and Tackle, with a speckled trout caught on a popping cork, with a Betts Perfect Sinker underneath. He was fishing in a creek off the Lower Neuse with Capt. D. Ashley King of Keep CastinÂ’ Charters.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that on days that soft plastics are not producing, he has had many 50-80 fish days with hard twitch baits such as Rapala X-Raps, Super Shad Raps, and other similar stick baits. A slow presentation around heavy cover such as stump fields or alongdeep river ledges should put fish in the boat. Anglers looking to use these hard baits should consider changing out the terminal hardware, though, to heavier rings and stainless hooks to avoid losing lures to the heavyweight fish.
The shad bite is beginning and improving each day. The water is still a little chilly for this member of the herring family, but anglers are connecting with them on shad darts, Little Cleo’s, or other small spoons.
Tommy Dean with a striper caught in the Neuse on a TerrorEyz jerk bait while fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Charters.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that with the recent clearing of the Trent and Neuse rivers, the striped bass bite has been on fire. The fish are staging in the lower reaches of the rivers as they begin their spawning runs. Anglers looking to connect with these fish need to focus on ledges and pilings. Lures such as D.O.A. TerrorEyz or Jerkshads are the go to baits for this tasty species.
Anglers in the Pamlico and Neuse rivers are also connecting with freshwater species such as crappie, perch, and bass in feeder creeks off of the main rivers and creeks. Live minnows are great baits for the freshwater species, but anglers can also connect with small spinner baits.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that the striped bass bite in the lower Pamlico River has kicked into gear with most days producing 30-50 fish per day. The majority of these fish are in the 6-10 lb. range. Z-Man plastics on 1/2 oz. jig heads are the bait of choice lately, but as the water warms and the fish begin to move up the river to Weldon, anglers can connect on topwater baits such as Storm Chug topwaters and MirrOlure Top Dogs.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that the striped bass are spread out in the Pamlico River from Bath up into Washington. Anglers have been connecting with the fish on deep diving hard lures like Rebel Divers, Rattlin’ Rogue plugs, and soft plastics. Deeper into the feeder creeks there has been a solid crappie and perch bite, with the panfish falling for smaller grubs, spinner baits, and small minnows.
The redfish and trout haven’t shown up in large numbers yet, but with the warming weather it won’t be long until anglers start finding them around creek mouths and river shorelines. D.O.A. CAL soft plastics, swim shads, and suspending hard baits are the best ways to find the fish feeding in heavy cover.
As the weather continues to warm, the striped bass will move inshore to spawn and return to the lower reaches in mid-April.
