Swansboro April 10, 2014
Frasier Bullington, of Ocean Isle Beach, with a 26″ red drum that struck a Zoom Fluke soft plastic scented with Pro-Cure Super Gel in a bay behind Emerald Isle. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with good numbers of red drum in the shallow bays behind the area’s barrier islands. There have been some solid sight-casting opportunities when it’s calm and sunny, and Zoom Fluke soft plastics scented with Pro-Cure Super Gel have been fooling the fish that anglers are spotting. When the weather and water aren’t aligning to stalk the fish, blind casting cut mullet gives the reds some scent to home in on and has also been producing results.
Flounder are beginning to bite in the mainland creeks and rivers, and the flatfish action should improve as the water temperatures continue to climb. Anglers can expect the fish to move further towards the mouths of the tributaries as the water gets warmer. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits are both attracting attention from the flounder.
There’s been some decent speckled trout action for anglers working artificials in the mainland creeks and rivers as well. Soft plastics and live baits are both effective on the specks.
Anglers are starting to see some gray trout show up in the deeper inshore water near Swansboro, and sea mullet should soon be joining them. Spec rigs tipped with Fish Bites baits or shrimp will fool both of the tasty bottom feeders.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite in the White Oak River has been fairly solid lately, and the fish aren’t getting much pressure as the season remains closed until mid-June. Soft plastic baits like Zoom Flukes pinned to light jigheads are fooling the majority of the trout (with many 2-4 lbs.).
Scott Wilson with a 39.5 lb. wahoo that bit a blue/white softhead lure at the Yellowfin Hole while he was trolling on the “Pura Vida.”
Red drum are still schooling up in the area backwaters, and they’ve been feeding more actively as the water temperature has risen over the past few weeks. Anglers are starting to see some decent topwater action with the reds, and they’re hooking more on soft plastic baits when they’re reluctant to bite on the surface.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, skates, and sharks while bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits.
A few red drum are still feeding in the surf zone, but most have moved inshore for the spring.
Bottom fishermen should have little trouble connecting with some quality black sea bass at structure 10 miles and further from the beachfront. Squid and cut baits on double-drop bottom rigs are the best bets for the bass and other bottomfish (like grunts and porgies) in the area.
Offshore, the boats who’ve been to the Gulf Stream lately are reporting decent action with wahoo and blackfin tuna around local blue water spots like the Swansboro Hole. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures and baitless high-speed offerings will both attract attention from the wahoo and tuna.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that sea mullet and croaker have just shown up around the pier and are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and more. Anglers have been hooking some fat pufferfish on shrimp and cut baits for a few weeks, and some are still around.
The action will get better and anglers will see a little more variety in their catches over the coming weeks as the water temperatures climb. The water is currently 58 degrees.
