Swansboro July 23, 2009
Jeff Brown, from Burlington, NC, with a slot red drum he hooked on a piece of cut pogy in the Topsail surf.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are finding fast action with king mackerel and large spanish (5 lb. class) just off the beaches at the nearshore live bottoms and reefs. Live pogies are fooling both fish, and there have been plenty in the ICW for anglers looking for baits.
Smaller spanish are feeding along the beachfront, particularly around the east end of Bear Island, and trolled Clarkspoons will tempt them to bite.
Flounder fishing on the nearshore reefs has been excellent over the past week (with fish to 5 lbs.). Bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktails off the bottom will attract bites from the flounder.
Generally, it takes the flounder around a week to move in from the nearshore reefs to the inlet, so next week flounder fishing around the inlet and connecting channels should be a good bet.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes, with the best fishing on the outer edges where nearby channels provide plenty of current flow. Spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, and live shrimp are producing action with the reds.
Plenty of black drum are also feeding in the marshes, and live shrimp fished around oyster rocks and cuts in the marsh will fool the striped drum, too.
Speckled trout are feeding behind the barrier islands, off the ICW, and in deep cuts in the marsh. Live shrimp beneath popping corks or circle-hooked on Carolina rigs will fool the specks.
The sheepshead bite has been solid around the Swansboro Bridge lately (with fish to 5 lbs.). Live fiddler crabs should get the sheepsheads’ attention.
Bluefish and ladyfish are feeding in the waterway and channels at night, and anglers can hook them on live shrimp and finger mullet or white Gulp and Trigger-X baits.
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Rachel Kauffman, from Durham, NC, with a 5 lb. class spanish mackerel she hooked on a live pogy off Bogue Inlet while fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that the nearshore bite out of Bogue Inlet has been on fire lately. Anglers are hooking up with big numbers of king mackerel, some dolphin (to 15-20 lbs.), some cobia, and amberjacks while slow-trolling live pogies and other baits near the wrecks, reefs, and ledges in the area, most within sight of land.
Bottom fishing in the same areas has produced some chunky gag groupers lately as well.
The recent king and big spanish mackerel bite has been phenomenal on the beaches for anglers slow-trolling pogies around the many schools of bait working along the beaches.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore wrecks and reefs has been solid lately, too, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on live baits and on Gulp-tipped bucktails.
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Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still connecting with good numbers of red drum and flounder in the sound. Live mud minnows and finger mullet are producing much of the action, and Trigger-X baits are also drawing plenty of bites. Anglers may be able to tempt the reds to bite topwater plugs as well.
Surf fishermen are still hooking up with spot, whiting, and pompano. Sand fleas and bloodworms are the best baits.
The big spanish mackerel bite along the beaches has been excellent lately, and anglers slow-trolling live pogies are hooking the most fish.
King mackerel and dolphin fishing has slowed down a bit lately, but there are still a few feeding 5-10 miles offshore, and anglers can hook them on live or dead baits.
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Jerry, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs.
Bottom fishermen are decking some pompano on shrimp during the day, as well as spot, whiting, and croaker at night.
Live baiters had a good run last week, hooking several tarpon and landing a number of king mackerel (the largest 35 lbs.).
