Pamlico – October 23, 2014
Bob Pressly, of Minnesott Beach, NC, with a 24.25″ speckled trout he and Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, tagged and released in the lower Neuse River after it struck a Rapala Twitchin’ Rap.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that the Neuse River has seen some poor water conditions and a fish kill in recent weeks, pushing much of the speckled trout and red drum action to the mouth of the river and the sound. Anglers are connecting with some big specks around the lower river shorelines and in nearby creeks (to 24”+). Suspending hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s and Yo-Zuri 3D baits have been highly effective on the specks lately. Anglers are hooking some on soft plastics as well, but the hard baits seem to be producing more action and bigger fish right now.
Some slot and over-slot puppy drum are feeding in many of the same areas, although they don’t seem to have moved into the creeks like the specks have. The same lures that are fooling the specks will work on the reds, and anglers can also fish cut and live baits with success.
Anglers are catching a few striped bass on topwater plugs near New Bern, but the poor water quality has hampered the bite considerably. West and northwest winds in the coming days should push much of the bad water out of the river and hopefully improve the bite.
Garrison Peppers, of Raleigh, with an upper-slot red drum that struck a D.O.A. Deadly Combo rig while he was fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding plenty of light-tackle fun while working artificial and live baits in the Pamlico Sound. Big numbers of gray trout, some speckled trout, bluefish, and flounder are all feeding together in the sound, and all are taking an interest in soft plastics and live baits.
Some puppy drum are feeding along the shorelines of the lower rivers and the sound, and anglers are hooking them on soft plastics pinned to jigheads and under popping corks. One angler released a citation-class red last week as well, so there may still be a few of the big fish in the area.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing some solid action with speckled trout and red drum in the lower Neuse River and the nearby creeks. Soft plastics like D.O.A. Shrimp and CAL-series lures are fooling the majority of the fish, both on jigheads and fished under popping corks.
Curtis Pelt with 18″ and 20″ flounder he hooked on Gulp baits near Swan Quarter.
The striped bass bite around New Bern has been a bit slow lately, but anglers are hooking a few while working topwater plugs around shoreline structure like stump fields.
Isaiah, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that despite a menhaden kill in the river near Washington, anglers are seeing some decent striped bass action in the area. The fish are feeding around the bridges and train trestle and biting topwater plugs along with subsurface offerings like Rat-L-Traps and Rattlin’ Rogues.
Anglers are still connecting with solid numbers of flounder around Bath and further downriver. The best bets for the flatfish lately seem to be 5” Gulp Jerkshads on jigheads.
The speckled trout bite remains solid around North Creek and Wade’s Point, where anglers are hooking some solid specks while working MR17 MirrOlures and other artificials. The bite should only improve as fall wears on.
