Swansboro April 28, 2011
Daryl Marsh, of Carolina Fishing TV, with a 28" red drum he caught and released after it bit a live mud minnow. He was fishing a mudflat near Emerald Isle with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that anglers are starting to see some solid variety inshore around Swansboro. Plenty of bluefish (1-3 lbs.) are feeding in the inlets and deeper connecting channels, and they will fall for metal casting lures or diving plugs.
Red drum are working the shallow bays and mudflats, but the larger schools have broken up into pods of 50 or less fish for the most part. Casting topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics on weightless worm hooks or 1/8 oz. jigheads has been the most effective strategy for the reds lately, and the higher tide stages have been producing the best fishing.
More flounder are showing up as well, and they’re falling for baits that anglers are casting for the reds.
Some 1-2 lb. speckled trout are also feeding in the marshes and falling for Powerbait shrimp under popping corks.
Bottomfish like pigfish, croaker, spot, sea mullet, and gray trout are feeding in the deeper water of the ICW, but anglers will have to weed through plenty of small fish to end up with a cooler of keepers. Tipping 1/16 oz. spec rigs with shrimp has been the most effective strategy for the bottom feeders.
Nearshore, anglers are finding hot fishing with water temperatures of 68-69 degrees within five miles of the beaches. Schools of pogies along with a few cobia have already been sighted in the surf zone.
Atlantic bonito are chasing bait at the ledges and artificial reefs within five miles of shore, and anglers can hook them on soft plastics, small metal jigs, and topwater plugs.
Nearshore flounder fishing is heating up as well, with excellent fishing last week around structure in the 5-10 mile range. Lately 2-3 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are the most effective lures for the flounder at the oceanic structure. The fish will continue moving closer to shore as the water warms, and drifting the inlets should produce plenty of flatfish as they move inside during the month of May.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum are plentiful in the backwaters near Swansboro, but they are spreading out from their dense schools into smaller groups of fish. Gulp baits should produce action with the reds, but if they’re finicky, cut baits or live mud minnows fished under floats should tempt them to bite.
Some speckled trout are showing up around oyster rocks in the creeks off the White Oak River and Queen’s Creek. Gulp and Halo shrimp are fooling the specks.
Flounder are moving out of the mainland creeks and into the sounds (most undersized but a few keepers in the mix). Live mud minnows and white Gulp baits are the most effective choices for the flatfish.
Bluefish are feeding on the shoals, in the inlet, and in the nearby channels, and any lure that imitates the glass minnows they’re feeding on should produce plenty of bites.
Gray trout and sea mullet are feeding in the deep water around the inlet and along the ICW. Shrimp and clam flavored Fish Bites will fool the mullet, and anglers can target the grays with Gulp baits on heavier leadheads or Stingsilvers and other jigging lures.
Nona Golden, of Elm City, NC, with a 4.5 lb. black drum she hooked on fresh shrimp while fishing from the Sheraton Pier in Atlantic Beach.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that the Atlantic bonito action is hot around nearshore structure off Onslow Beach. Anglers are finding the fish while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and searching for birds and schools of fish feeding on the surface. Once a school is located, casting Stingsilvers, Gotcha plugs, bucktails, and other small metal lures will tempt them to bite.
Plenty of bluefish and some false albacore are in the mix with the bonito.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier anglers are hooking up with some sea mullet on shrimp and Fish Bites, but the puffer action has slowed down.
Plenty of bluefish are showing up along the beaches and will take an interest in metal lures like Gotcha plugs or a variety of baits.
Offshore anglers have been connecting with some wahoo and tunas while trolling around the Swansboro Hole in recent weeks. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action.
Bottom fishing at structure near the break has been producing good catches of triggerfish and other bottom feeders.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some small spot and large sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp.
Plug casters are decking good numbers of bluefish while working Gotchas.
