Swansboro/Emerald Isle – April 2022
Randy, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that bottom fishing along the beaches has been picking up. Anglers fishing the local piers have been catching a variety of sea mullet, a few pufferfish, rays, and skates. Cut shrimp and mullet have been producing almost all the action.
Both red and black drum are moving along cuts in the surf down the beach.
Anglers in the sounds have found some red drum while fishing with cut mullet and soft plastics.
Speckled trout action is still largely focused in the mainland creeks and up the White Oak River. Both MirrOlures and soft plastics have been producing most strikes back in these areas.
Andrew Haymore caught (and released) this 28.5″ speckled trout on a MirrOlure Provoker in the New River.
Benjamin, of Dudley’s Marina, reports that sheepshead and black drum are starting to move inside from their offshore winter haunts. Target these species around deeper structures such as docks and bridges.
Speckled trout are now in transition. They’re staged up in the area’s creek mouths and will soon be moving into the ICW. A variety of different topwater plugs and MirrOlure MR-17s have been the top producing baits.
Red drum are still holding in their larger wintertime schools. Shortly, the changes in water temperatures and arriving bait will break these fish out into smaller groups as they fan out inshore. Cut baits and lightly weighted soft plastics are best for targeting the early season reds.
Anglers fishing in the surf have been finding good sea mullet action, along with scattered pufferfish and black drum.
Nearshore anglers are still finding plenty of black sea bass action at the artificial reefs.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that sea mullet have pushed inshore and are staged up all along the Swansboro waterfront. Two-hook bottom rigs tipped with fresh shrimp, sand fleas, or Fish Bites in the clam strips flavor are all getting action.
Bluefish have also begun to move inshore and are holding in deeper holes along the ICW. The majority are being caught on soft plastics by anglers targeting trout.
Most of the speckled trout action is still up in the mainland creeks. A little shift in the weather or some rain should push these trout right out into the ICW, though. MirrOlure MR-17s in a variety of color patterns or soft plastics on lightweight 1/8 oz. jig heads have provided most strikes.
Red drum are scattered throughout the area as they slowly break out of their winter schooling patterns. Anglers are finding action while fishing Carolina-rigged shrimp, Gulp shrimp on 1/8 oz. jig heads, and topwater plugs.
Anglers anticipate seeing some flounder mixed in the catches going into April. Soft plastics will produce most of these strikes.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that redfish are still holding in larger schools from the marshes inside Emerald Isle and Swansboro out to the surf zone. Weedless-rigged Fathom Rat Tail jerk baits and paddle tails have been the hot ticket. Recently, the natural and darker color patterns have seemed to get the better strike numbers. On days the schools seem more skittish, anglers have success in switching over to a Carolina rig with cut mullet.
Speckled trout are staged up in the mouths of mainland creeks and are hitting both soft plastic jerk shads and various swim baits.
Anglers have found some steady action while fishing smaller bottom rigs in deeper holes throughout these mainland creeks. Carolina-rigged shrimp has produced a mixed bag of smaller red drum, flounder, and some barely legal black drum.
Johnathan, of On Point Charters, reports that redfish action is strong as they remain schooled up on the inshore marsh flats. Gulp soft plastics on lightweight (1/8 oz.) Fathom jig heads have been a great setup for stealthily chasing these schools.
Speckled trout are holding in the deeper mainland creeks and are getting more aggressive as water temperatures warm up. MirrOlure MR-17s and lightweight soft plastics have both had success in these areas.
Nearshore anglers have found a push of false albacore a few miles off the beach in the past week. This action should get even better as the schools migrate into the area. Casting both a variety of small metal jigs or Zoom fluke baits on 1/2 oz. jig heads into the feeding frenzies has produced strikes.
Bill Norris, of Pelitier, with a 26″ speckled trout he caught on a Zoom golden bream jerk shad near Swansboro. He was fishing with Capt. Dale Collins of Fish or Die Charters.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that offshore runs have produced some really good wahoo action. Running Ilander lures with wire and medium-sized ballyhoo has produced most of the strikes.
Blackfin tuna are mixed in over structures out on the break. Small ballyhoo (either naked or skirted) rigged on 80 lb. fluorocarbon leader has been better for the finicky tuna.
Atlantic bonito should be making a showing early to mid-April closer to the beaches. Casting diamond jigs at surface-feeding schools or trolling small spoons to locate the fish will produce some action.
Inshore anglers have found the speckled trout bite to be good and will even be improving over the next few weeks. These fish are starting to move out of the creeks into more open waters and are looking to aggressively feed. Both topwater plugs and sub-surface lures have been producing most strikes (including a few citation-class trout).
Red drum are still holding in larger schools back in the marsh. This time of year, anglers should be rigged with suspending lures or weedless-rigged jig heads to avoid the moss that is blooming along the bottom.
Herb, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been picking up with anglers bringing in good catches of blowfish, sea mullet, and gray trout.
Water temperatures along the beaches are just starting to creep up into the 60s, so sea mullet numbers will be picking up and becoming more consistent.
Black drum will also start being mixed in the counts for anglers fishing with shrimp, and bluefish will be arriving anytime now as they push in from off the beach. Not far behind the blues are schools of spanish mackerel which will be feeding around bait balls.
