Swansboro/Emerald Isle – November 2023
Mickey, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that the surf fishing action has really picked up over the last few weeks due to the cooler water temperatures and all the bait moving out of the inlets. Anglers casting jigs from the surf and piers have been catching plenty of bluefish and some Spanish mackerel. The bluefish can also be enticed to strike at bottom-rigged baits. A few speckled trout have shown up in deeper holes along the beach. Bottom fishing has been really good, as anglers are finding any variety of red drum, pompano, sea mullet, and the occasional flounder.
Inshore anglers are starting to see the speckled trout bite picking up. Red drum are around in good numbers, but they are a little scattered as the bait moves out. Fishing with crabs or shrimp around hard structures is producing black drum and sheepshead. Grouper fishing was strong right up until closure, with triggerfish and vermilion snapper now being the main catches. A few cobia have also been caught in the same areas. King mackerel fishing has been steady, with fish scattered from the beachfronts out to 15 miles. The offshore action further out is ramping up, with catches of wahoo, blackfin tuna, and some sailfish.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been picking up with the water temperatures cooling off. For now, the fish are pretty spread out, and anglers have found it better to stay on the move to keep on the bite throughout the day. Live shrimp and soft plastic paddle tails are both having success enticing strikes. Red drum are also around inshore, but they, too, have been pretty scattered. A lot of the reds seem to have pushed into the bait sone where a lot of bait went. The smaller “rat” reds are the ones currently staged inshore. Nearshore anglers are starting to target false albacore, with most of the Spanish mackerel action about done.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been turning on from the inlets back to the rivers. Anglers are seeing a good class of keeper fish while casting Zoom flukes and live shrimp. Red drum action has been solid back in the marshes. A lot of smaller puppy drum are around, though, with Gulp shrimp and cut baits producing most bites. Black drum and sheepshead are being caught around structures at the creek and river mouths with fiddler or mud crabs. A bunch of gray trout are staged in creeks just inside the inlets.
Dale, of Fish or Die Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been slowing down and scattering out. The finger mullet have been working their way out, and the reds have followed them out. Speckled trout fishing has picked up. MirrOlures in the MR-18 and MR-27 variety have worked well in a variety of color patterns. Anglers also have had plenty of success fishing live shrimp under slip corks or casting Zoom jerk shads. Gray trout and black drum are staged in the deeper inshore waters (8-15’). Fresh shrimp on lightweight jig heads have been working well when letting the current sweep your bait into the hole. Bluefish are terrorizing bait around area bridges, where a metal spoon can entice a nice strike.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite has been hot, with some nice fish being caught as shallow as 20’. With water temperatures moving down, expect to see these fish push out a few miles. The kings will stay staged up out there as long as water temperatures hover in the upper 60s. Live bait has been an excellent choice, but many times a dead cigar minnow will get just as many, or even more, strikes in the late fall. Speckled trout are starting to show up good as we move into late fall. The trout are holding around points in the main river and near creek mouths. Anglers on the water early or on days with significant cloud cover are having a lot of success with topwater plugs. As the sun comes up, switching over to sub-surface lures or live shrimp can help stay on the bite.
Nick and Finley Perricone, of Peletier, NC, caught this red drum while surf fishing on Emerald Isle using cut mullet.
Tyler, of Drumroll Charters, reports that anglers have been in full swing for targeting false albacore over the past few weeks. These schools are mostly right on the beach. The biggest variable for success has been if the winds allow for the sight-casting conditions needed. Spanish and king mackerel are still on the beach, too. Spanish mackerel numbers are starting to slow down with the cooler water temperatures, but the quality of fish is impressive. King mackerel fishing has been better a little further out, with anglers targeting ARs and offshore structures with more success.
Tony, of Fin FinderZ, reports that anglers running the beachfronts and outside the inlets have found just about all the bluefish and false albacore action they could hope for. Casting metal jigs is typically the favorite tactic. King mackerel have shown up well, with fish everywhere from the beach out to 10 miles. Bottom fishing is picking up with the cooler water moving in. Hopefully, these changes will see some of the bigger black sea bass move in closer.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that king mackerel (to 26 lbs.) are being caught, though cooling weather should signal the end for this bite soon. Anglers are having a blast casting plugs to schools of bluefish, Spanish, and false albacore. Some pompano are being caught (to 2.7 lbs.) by anglers with bottom-rigged baits. When the next cold fronts move through, anglers hope to see another run of spot and sea mullet similar to earlier in October.
