Pamlico – October 9, 2014
Kim Sink, of Wilmington, caught and released this 48″ red drum while fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Greg Voliva of Four Seasons Guide Service.
Mitch, of FishIBX.com, reports that anglers are still seeing action with trophy-class red drum in the Pamlico Sound and nearby lower rivers. Most have been feeding in shallow bays along the shorelines, and anglers are casting artificial lures like crankbaits and soft plastic swimbaits to hook up. The fish will soon be heading out of the sound and south for the season, but anglers likely have some time left to target the big reds in shallow water before they leave.
Puppy drum are feeding in the same bays, out in the sound, and along the shorelines of the lower rivers. The pups are taking a hearty interest in both cut baits on the bottom and a variety of artificial lures that anglers are working.
Scattered speckled trout are feeding in the creeks off the main rivers, and the fish should become more numerous and hungry as the water temperatures drop in the coming weeks. Topwater plugs, suspending lures, and soft plastic baits will all attract attention from the trout.
Striped bass action around Washington and New Bern is also going strong, and the keeper season is now open. Anglers can target the stripers with live baits or a variety of artificials including topwater plugs and multi-lure ‘Bama rigs worked around shorelines and structure like bridges.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid action with citation-class red drum in the Neuse River off Oriental. Large D.O.A. soft plastic baits under popping corks are fooling most of the fish, and areas where anglers see bait working or other signs of feeding fish are the places to target.
Some speckled trout, puppy drum, and flounder are feeding along the lower river shorelines. Anglers are hooking them on soft plastics, suspending lures, popping cork rigs, and topwater plugs.
Travis Overman and Chad Bazen, of Bazen Custom Rods, with a 51″ red drum they caught and released after it bit a cut bait in the Pamlico Sound near the mouth of the Neuse River. They were fishing with Justin Eddins.
More specks have been feeding alongside striped bass along the shorelines near New Bern. There’s been excellent topwater action for both on cloudy, windy days, but prettier weather seems to hamper the bite.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent speckled trout bite at certain times and spots recently, but slow fishing at others. The Neuse River action should become more widespread and consistent as the weather grows cooler, and anglers are connecting with the fish on topwater plugs, soft plastics, popping cork rigs, and suspending lures.
Most of the specks are feeding in channels and sloughs out off of the local shorelines, and anglers casting baits towards the shore are also seeing some solid action with slot-sized red drum.
Striped bass season is open, and anglers are finding plenty of willing fish around New Bern. Casting topwater plugs around shoreline structure early and late in the day is producing many of the fish, and anglers fishing the midday hours are scoring while trolling and working jigs around bridge pilings and drop-offs.
Austin, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing improving speckled trout action in the area, and the fishing should become even better as fall progresses. Bath Creek, Swan Quarter, and the Pungo River have been producing the best fishing lately, and anglers are hooking up on MirrOlures and soft plastic baits.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas, with a particularly good bite along the shorelines near Swan Quarter. Live baits and soft plastics are drawing attention from the flatfish.
Roman Laibida, Steve Bohannon, and Tony Hall with a 70 lb. wahoo that attacked a skirted ballyhoo northeast of the Big Rock while they were trolling with Bruce Lee on the “Odessa.” Weighed in at Harkers Island Fishing Center.
Puppy drum are looking for meals along the shorelines near the mouth of the Pamlico River, and they’re biting topwater plugs, popping cork rigs, and soft plastics.
There was an excellent striped bass bite around Washington up until the keeper season opened, but the fishing seems to have become more inconsistent since. Anglers are still hooking decent numbers around the bridges and other structure in the area, primarily on topwater plugs and jighead/soft plastic combos.
