Swansboro July 28, 2011
Lauren Hall and her father, Capt. Robbie Hall, of Hall'em In Charters, with Lauren's first flounder, which fell for a live finger mullet in the marsh behind Hammocks Beach State Park.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the low morning tides have made the red drum bite a little tougher over the past week, but anglers are still catching decent numbers of fish. They’re not in large schools, so covering a lot of water is the way to ensure some action. The oyster and grass points in the marshes have been producing most of the action lately, and live baits on popping corks or light Carolina rigs are outproducing artificials right now.
The inshore flounder fishing has been solid lately (with good numbers of 18-20” fish). Live baits and Gulps on 3/4 – 1 oz. bucktails are tempting bites from the flatfish. The best fishing has been around hard structure like docks and seawalls, but anglers are also picking up a few flounder in the creeks.
Black drum and some speckled trout are feeding in deeper holes in the area marshes. Live shrimp will produce action with both, but anglers need to bring plenty (200-300) as there are plenty of pinfish and other undesirables eager to eat the shrimp as well.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the region’s bridge and dock pilings. With the wind-dirtied water lately, the best fishing has been around the top of the higher tides, as the slightly cleaner water helps the fish find the bait. Fiddler crabs are top choices for the sheeps.
Ladyfish have moved into the Swansboro backwaters and are feeding in the channels at night. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the ladies.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that the large spanish mackerel bite is still going just off Bogue Inlet. Anglers are finding the fish at the AR’s and live and rocky bottoms within a few miles of the inlet. They’re tempting them to bite live menhaden on scaled-down king mackerel rigs.
Some large sharks and barracudas are feeding around structure from just off the inlet to well offshore (and making landing anything else anglers hook difficult at times).
Amberjacks are schooled up at high-relief structure in 50’ and deeper, but the barracudas have been beating them to live baits lately.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas as the spanish, and small live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails are tempting them to bite.
Bottom fishing further offshore in 65-80’ of water is producing action with black sea bass, triggerfish, gag grouper, and other bottom feeders. Squid and cut baits fished on smaller hooks are the way to go for the bass and triggers.
Bucktail jigs and live menhaden and pinfish are tempting bites from the gags.
Samantha Ferri with a 22 lb. bull dolphin that was part of a double hookup on live menhaden while she was fishing in 65' of water off Bogue Inlet with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Fishing Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that there’s been a decent red drum bite (with some fish to 40”) in the Emerald Isle surf, with the best fishing towards the point. Cut baits are the way to go for the surf reds.
The red drum bite is still solid inshore, where anglers are hooking the fish in the marshes on topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and live baits.
Flounder fishing has been decent around the docks and other structure inshore lately, and live baits or Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Joanne, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that wind and dirty water have made for some tough fishing over the past week. Bottom fishermen are finding some action with spot, croaker, and a few sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
A few small bluefish are also feeding near the pier, and they will strike a variety of baits and lures.
