Added on Thursday, July 31, 2008  Gary Hurley

Swansboro July 31, 2008

Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that large flounder are staging in creek mouths and structure between the ICW and the barrier islands (some fish up to 9 lbs. last week).

Carolina rigs baited with 3-6″ long live baits like mullet, pogies, and spots will get the flounder’s attention, and they’ll also fall for 1/2-1 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.

Plenty of red drum are feeding in the surf. Anglers can hook them on cut baits, live baits, or scented soft plastics on jigheads. There are also reds feeding in the sounds and up in the creeks and rivers of the mainland. Anglers who can sneak up on the spooky fish will be able to hook up on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, and Gulp baits on light jigheads.

There are plenty of sheepshead feeding around the dock and bridge pilings near Swansboro (most are 1-5 lbs.). Larger sheeps are feeding on the grass flats in Bogue Sound and around oyster rocks in the sound and rivers. Live shrimp fished on small hooks will entice the big convict fish to bite in shallows if anglers can present them without spooking the fish.

There are also plenty of ladyfish, black drum, croakers, hogfish, and a few gray trout and speckled trout working the rocks and the channel walls of the inlet connecting creeks including Banks Channel, Trout Creek, West Channel, Sanders Creek, Cow Channel, Brown’s Inlet Channel, and others.

 

Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been good along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons will draw strikes from both fish. Anglers can target larger spanish (4-6 lbs.) by fishing live finger mullet on light wire leaders around nearshore structure. Early mornings are the best time to target the big spanish.

Red drum are holding towards the edges of the area’s marshes in the hot weather, staying close to 6-8′ deep channels. Some trout are holding in the same areas. Gulp baits and topwaters should attract attention from both.

Oyster rocks in the marshes are holding good numbers of black drum in the 1-5 lb. range. Live shrimp or small Gulp shrimp fished under floats should get their attention.

Large flounder along with a few 30+” red drum are showing up in the deep channels near the inlet and around structure in the ICW. Live baits on Carolina rigs or bucktails will get attention from both.

 

Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that there are good numbers of spanish mackerel (some up to 5 lbs.) feeding just outside Bogue Inlet. Live finger mullet drifted in the current will get their attention. The areas west of Bogue Inlet Pier and around the Keypost are producing the best action.

The C and D Buoys are holding lots of bait and lots of predators. King mackerel are feeding near the buoys (and many are 20-30+ lbs.). Live baits are producing the most action, but anglers are hooking up on dead baits beneath skirts, too. Some small dolphin are also feeding in the area.

The grouper bite is still solid 40-50 miles out, and the wahoo bite is picking up out there as well.

Some large wahoo should be feeding at king mackerel spots as close as 15 miles off the inlets soon.

 

Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that anglers are finding good action with kings and dolphin at spots in the 10-15 mile range, including the SE Bottoms, D Buoy, East Rock, and Rocks South of 13. Live cigar minnows or greenies and dead cigar minnows trolled on Gitzem jigheads will produce action with both, although the dolphin bite has been hit or miss day to day.

Some huge wahoo (60-80 lbs.) will surprise anglers at the familiar king mackerel spots in the next week or two.

Grouper fishing has been good at ledges 30-35 miles off the inlet, and anglers are also landing beeliners, triggerfish, sea bass, and other bottomfish. Live pinfish or pogies will appeal to the larger groupers. Jiggers are finding good results with the new Shimano Lucanus jigs.

 

Bob, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf fishermen are landing good numbers of bluefish right now.

The red drum bite is still solid on the flats in the sound, where anglers are hooking up with them on topwaters, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits.

Flounder fishing has been up and down, but anglers are landing some large flatfish in the inlet and deep holes in the main channel. Carolina-rigged live baits will get their attention.

 

Billie, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing a few spot, some whiting, pompano, and bluefish. Shrimp will entice them to bite.

Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are hooking a few flounder.

A 21 lb. king mackerel was landed from the end of the pier last week.

The water is 81 degrees.