Swansboro July 29, 2010
Casey Bourne, of Pinetops, NC, with her first amberjack. She landed the fish on medium spinning gear after it fell for a topwater plug at a nearshore wreck off Bogue Inlet while she was fishing with Capt. Chesson O'Briant of CXC Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are finding some red drum around the oyster rocks up Queens Creek and the White Oak River. The action’s been better in the creeks and rivers lately than the marshes in the sound, where the fish seem to be scattered. The reds will take an interest in topwater plugs in the early mornings, but most of the action’s been coming on live finger mullet and shrimp lately.
Sheepshead and black drum are still feeding around the area’s bridge and dock pilings and at some of the oyster rocks in the marshes. Live fiddler crabs and shrimp will attract attention from both fish.
Night fishing in the ICW and other channels has been producing fast action with ladyfish, bluefish, and more. The action’s been best around lighted docks and bridges, and the fish will fall for a variety of lures when the bite’s on. Live shrimp, though, will nearly guarantee success.
The strong southwest winds last week made for tough conditions for any anglers trying to get out the inlet, but with the wind forecast to turn to the east and north over the next week, the king and spanish mackerel bite should turn on just off the beaches at nearshore wrecks, rocks, and live bottoms. Live baits will produce the most consistent action and largest fish, though anglers can load up the boat with smaller spanish while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, too.
The flounder bite is still on at most of the same nearshore structure, where anglers can hook the fish on live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails. The flatfish bite has been even better inshore lately, however, where anglers are finding the fish around docks, marsh channels, creekmouths, and other areas. Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulps will fool the fish inshore as well.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing, reports that bottom fishing in the 15 miles range out of Bogue Inlet has produced plenty of action with black sea bass and triggerfish recently. Squid and cut baits will help anglers fill coolers with these and other tasty bottom dwellers.
Gag grouper are feeding in the same areas, and they will take an interest in larger live baits or bucktails tipped with live and dead baits.
Amberjacks are on the feed at high-relief structure like wrecks, and they’re also around the chains for the buoys in the same range as the bottom feeders. They’ll take an interest in live baits, vertical jigs, topwater plugs, and more.
Stephen Kivett with a lit-up dolphin that fell for a live bait 20 miles off Bogue In;et.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers on the pier have seen several more schools of tarpon over the course of the week, but, as usual, they’re tough to hook and even tougher to land.
Plug casters and live-baiters landed a few spanish mackerel on the rare occasion that the water was clear around the pier last week.
The flounder bite’s been decent inshore around docks and other structure off the ICW. Live baits and Gulps will attract attention from the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in the area’s marshes. Anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, spinnerbaits, and a variety of other offerings.
Anglers in the know are finding some action with speckled trout up the White Oak River, Queens Creek, and other tributaries off the sound lately. Live shrimp and a variety of lures will fool the specks.
The winds have kept most boats inshore lately, but anglers are finding a decent spanish mackerel bite in the Morehead turning basin.
Patty, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with whiting on shrimp.
Those baiting up with small live baits are connecting with some flounder.
Bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and a variety of baits.
