Swansboro/Emerald Isle – August 2023
Morgan, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that speckled trout are being caught in the surf, with the low light hours being best (either early mornings or early evenings).
Bottom fishing is a great option for enjoying some summertime surf action, as anglers can expect a mixed bag of good-sized sea mullet, pufferfish, and black drum.
Small runs of spanish mackerel are moving within casting range in the mornings.
Nearshore anglers have mostly been trolling spoons off the beach for spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore anglers have been focused on the red drum bite scattered throughout the area. A ton of bait is around right now, and the reds are really fired up because of all the mullet, menhaden, and shrimp.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers have found a nice little summer push of speckled trout while targeting the deeper channels and shell-lined bottoms. Both live mullet and paddle tail soft plastics on light weight jig heads have been best in attracting strikes.
Better numbers of big black drum are staged up around the deeper inshore structures. Bottom fishing with any variety of mud crabs, jumbo shrimp, or frozen clams have worked to get these fish to feed.
Outside the inlet, a lot of big spanish mackerel are showing up over the nearshore reefs. This push has been late, but the numbers seem to be moving in and hopefully staying strong.
Nora and Deb Chase, from St. Louis, MO, with a pair of over-slot red drum caught on cut bait. They were fishing the Swansboro area with Capt. Matt Littleton of Friendly City Fishing Charters.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that the inshore action is dominated by the red drum scattered around. Being the middle of summer, these fish can be found just about everywhere and anywhere in smaller groups feeding on any variety of Carolina-rigged cut baits, soft plastics, or topwater plugs.
A bunch of flounder are being caught as bycatch while targeting the reds inshore. Any bottom rigged baits or soft plastics on light weight jig heads will get a nearby flatfish to strike.
Anglers looking for relief from the hot sun can target some of the local bridges or docks for sheepshead and black drum. Both species will readily eat a live fiddler crab or shrimp.
Anglers can find sight casting action off the beaches and in the inlet areas. Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish have been plentiful, and when surface feeding, they will strike at smaller metal spoons retrieved through the frenzy.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been good even with groups of fish scattered around in the hot water temperatures. The bait has been so plentiful in the area that these reds are in a really active feeding pattern. Carolina-rigged bait fished around structure (such as oyster rocks or docks) is a go-to tactic of summertime anglers, and if you can get out on the water really early, topwater plugs can have success.
Shrimp or crabs bottom fished around hard inshore structures have been getting strikes from black drum.
Nearshore anglers have found most of the action pushed a bit further out over the deeper ARs. Amberjack, king mackerel, and even the occasional mahi can be caught in this area.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the summertime mahi bite has been excellent, with many times anglers still in sight of land. Some days you see flying fish starting at the three-mile mark and good bluewater pulled in really close. Most of the mahi are being caught with dead cigar minnows on king rigs, with blue/white or green skirts being the best producer.
Pulling live baits in this area is also attracting strikes from big king mackerel and the occasional cobia.
A few sailfish have been in the action in the 60-65’ range. As water temperatures continue to rise, expect this bite to push out more into the 70-80’ area.
Tyler, or Drumroll Charters, reports that red drum are definitely in a typical summer pattern, with smaller groups scattered along the ICW and back into the marshes. Target grass banks back in the marshes and areas with a little hard structure (such as oyster beds). Finding and utilizing live bait has been key.
The speckled trout bite has been pretty good even with all this hot water inshore. The quality of fish has been great, with a few citations caught in recent weeks. Fishing the early or late hours of the day can help improve the chance of trout success.
Targeting the area’s bridges and docks with bottom or sweeper-rigged crustaceans is producing sheepshead and black drum.
Brady Carroll, of Smithfield, NC, hooked this shark using cut bait while surf fishing at Pine Knoll Shores.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that the mahi action is still fairly good, and anglers should be looking out for any sort of floating debris or grass to hold a few of these fish that are now pushed nearshore. Even while bottom fishing, having a setup ready is key in case some fish show up.
Bottom fishing at the deeper structures has been strong, with catches of large grouper, tons of amberjacks, and some nice cobia in the mix.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are having good success casting plugs for bluefish and spanish mackerel.
The king mackerel action has been a little slow, but some nice-sized fish (to 28 lbs.) have been caught.
Speckled trout are biting from the pier in the early morning hours, with quality fish (to 3 lbs.) in the mix.
Pompano have also been a nice addition to the typical bottom fishing mixed bags.
