Swansboro July 12, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that anglers fishing the live bottoms and reefs near the inlet have landed nice catches of kings, spanish mackerel, and 1-3 lb. flounder over the past week.
In the backwaters, plenty of slot sized red drum and bluefish are working the deeper channels and creeks connecting the ICW to the inlets.
Red drum are also feeding along flooded grass edges at higher tides, and then they’re in the deeper pockets, channels, and around ICW structure when the water is lower.
Ladyfish are feeding around lighted bridges and docks at night and on sandy flats during rising tides in the daytime. They’ll strike Rattletraps, topwaters, and live shrimp or mullet.
Black drum (ranging from ½ to 5 lbs.) are looking for meals around the bridges, oyster bars, and creeks behind Emerald Isle and Bear Island. Target the black drum by fishing with live or fresh shrimp, or use small scented baits (such as Gulps) on light jigheads and work the bait slowly along the bottom.
Anglers are catching speckled trout while fishing around oyster rocks, bridge and dock pilings, grass flats, and along flooded grass edges at high tides. Look for eddies along the marsh grass to find good places to target the trout.
Both summer and southern flounder are moving into the inlet and backwaters, although most of the fish are small ones (under 2 lbs.). Carolina rigged live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will draw strikes from the flounder.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that king mackerel are feeding well around the Southeast Bottoms and the Honey Hole. The kings are running up to and over 20 lbs., and they’re falling mostly for live pogies.
Dolphin are holding further offshore, and they will respond well to daisy chains of Carolina Witches in front of chugger lures. The daisy chains should be fished on the edge of the propwash so that one or more of the witches is out of the water, mimicking a flying fish skipping across the water.
Greg, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that red drum fishing has been excellent in the creeks and bays off the sound. Most of the drum are slot sized fished (between 18-27”). Gulp baits are tempting most of the drum bites, but they’ll also hit live baits and other artificials.
Boats drifting the inlets with squid strips, live mud minnows, and finger mullet are hooking up with good numbers of flounder. The majority of the flatfish are between 1.5-3 lbs.
Nearshore, the dolphin and king mackerel bite has been solid in the 2-8 mile range. A decent number of sailfish are feeding in the same area and surprising anglers trolling for the smaller dolphin and kings. Live baits and rigged ballyhoo are producing the best results as far as baits go.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with sand fleas are hooking up with black drum and pompano.
Sheepshead are also taking an interest in sand fleas fished near the pier’s pilings.
Some speckled trout are biting shrimp, and anglers also caught some fat 4-6 lb. puppy drum on shrimp last week.
Those casting Gotcha plugs are hooking up with spanish mackerel.
Live baiters caught a few king mackerel over the course of the week.
The water temperature is 84 degrees.
