Swansboro August 27, 2009
Tim Creech, of Emerald Isle, with a bull dolphin that fell for a live pogy under a sea witch near the SE Bottoms while he was fishing with James Potts on the "Green Dolphin."
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the big flood tides lately have produced some excellent red drum action. Anglers are hooking the reds around flooded marsh grass, oyster points, and other backwater structure at high tides while casting topwater plugs. At lower water, the bite’s been best around the marsh edges for anglers casting Gulp baits.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same places as the reds, and anglers can also find them in the inlet connecting channels. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will fool the flatties.
Flounder, speckled trout, and black drum are on the feed around oyster rocks and other structure in the creeks and rivers. Live shrimp fished under floats will draw bites from all three fish.
The nearshore bite should be excellent over the next week. Anglers can find big numbers of spanish mackerel feeding along the beaches and hook them while trolling spoons.
Larger spanish (4+ lbs.) are feeding at nearshore structure, and anglers can tempt them to bite downsized king rigs with small live finger mullet or pogies.
Some cobia are still feeding in the same areas, and a larger live mullet or pogy should attract their attention.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore structure is still good. Anglers can hook the flatfish on bucktails tipped with Gulp baits. Live baits will also draw their attention, but sea bass and other smaller bottom feeders can make it tough to keep the baits on the bottom long enough for flounder to find them.
Chelsea Gibbons, from WV, with a keeper gag grouper she hooked on a live pogy at a ledge 25 miles off Bogue Inlet while fishing with Capt. Stan Jarusinski of Capt. Stanman's Fishing Charters.
Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that the nearshore flounder fishing was excellent before Hurricane Bill passed, and it should remain hot when boats can get back out to the fish. The best action has been within 5 miles of the beaches on the live and hard bottoms, ledges, and artificial reefs.
Bucktails tipped with Gulp strip baits, shrimp, and pogies are producing most of the action with the flatfish (most 1-4 lbs., with a few larger). Live baits will also tempt the flatfish to bite, but big numbers of small sea bass and other bottom feeders are making fishing the live baits a hassle.
Large spanish mackerel are still feeding at the live bottoms and artificial reefs within 3 miles of shore. Slow-trolling 4-6” live mullet or pogies on light wire leaders with #4 or #6 gold treble hooks is the best way to tempt the spaniards to bite.
Some king mackerel (most 5-20 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas, and larger live baits (6-8”) on #2 and #4 trebles and wire leaders are fooling the kings. Trolling as slow as possible and getting baits deep with a downrigger or 4-6 oz. bell weight rubber-banded to the line will produce the most action with the mackerel.
In the backwaters, anglers are finding plenty of action with red and black drum, sheepshead, flounder, and a few speckled trout. Many artificials will fool the drum, trout, and flounder, but if they’re unwilling to strike, then downsizing to a 1/16 oz. jighead with a Gulp Pogy or Powerbait Ripple Shad should do the trick.
Anglers can target the sheepshead by fishing fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits around hard structure like dock and bridge pilings.
Amanda Jones with a king mackerel she hooked in Barden's Inlet on a live pogy.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier anglers are hooking up with a few whiting and bluefish.
Red drum are still on the feed in the marshes and the backwaters, and anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs, Gulps, or live baits.
The nearshore flounder bite is on, and bucktails tipped with Gulps are the best bet for the flatties.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers caught decent numbers of spanish mackerel (up to 3 lbs.) while casting Gotcha plugs last week.
Bottom fishermen are decking some spot, whiting, and bluefish on shrimp.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are hooking up with some keeper flounder.
