Swansboro – June 12, 2014
Josh Bachand, of Peletier, NC, with a 13 lb., 4 oz. cobia that bit a gold/red Gotcha plug he was working off Bogue Inlet Pier.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are starting to see some large spanish mackerel arriving at the nearshore AR’s and other structure. Drifting or slow-trolling small live baits like menhaden and mullet on scaled-down king mackerel rigs is the way to connect with the big spaniards (some to 5+ lbs.).
Flounder and black sea bass are also looking for meals around bottom structure nearshore and out past the 10 mile range. Anglers can hook both on 2 oz. bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
The flatfish action has improved inshore as well, and anglers have been hooking some healthy flounder while casting for red drum in the bays and backwaters over the past week. Live baits and Gulps will fool the flounder inshore.
The red drum action remains solid in the marshes behind the barrier islands, and topwater plugs and smaller Gulp baits have proven appealing to the reds recently. Live and cut mullet can be even better choices for anglers looking to soak bait.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around oyster rocks in the creeks, rivers, and bridge and dock pilings inshore. Both will take a hearty interest in fiddler crabs or live shrimp fished tight to the structure.
Joe Kohutek, of Newport, NC, with a 28″ red drum that struck a Bill Norman shrimp imitation in Queens Creek.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing a few cobia not far from the beachfront near Bogue Inlet. Searching for bait pods or fish cruising on the surface is producing sight-casting opportunities with the cobes, and anglers are fooling them with bucktail jigs, eel imitations, and live baits.
Amberjacks are schooled up around bottom structure from the 60’ depths on out. They’ll bite live baits or vertical jigs and, on occasion, topwater plugs.
Further offshore, there’s still plenty of dolphin action along the edge of the Gulf Stream, and some fish have begun to move inshore a bit from the break as well. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are tempting most of the bites from the dolphin.
There are also a decent number of billfish feeding a bit offshore of the break, and blue marlin encounters have been fairly commonplace recently.
Deep-drop bottom fishing has been producing plenty of action with triggerfish, red porgy, and other tasty species. Squid and cut baits are fooling the fish on the bottom rigs.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that blue water trollers are still seeing a solid dolphin bite along weedlines and around other floating objects in the blue water. Ballyhoo trolled with skirted lures are fooling most of the ‘phins. Some have moved inshore a bit, and anglers may find some dolphin action as close as the SE Bottoms right now.
Blue marlin are also feeding in the Gulf Stream, and boats are reporting big numbers of encounters while trolling for the dolphin and fishing further offshore.
Closer to the beaches, anglers are connecting with flounder and black sea bass around the nearshore AR’s and other bottom structure. Most are falling for bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Aaron Quinn, Micahel Gearheart, Cheryl Striech, and Zack Olcott with some of the gaffer dolphin they hooked while trolling skirted ballyhoo 62 miles off New River Inlet with Capt. Bill Hamner of Fish On Charters.
There are still some cobia feeding within a few miles of the beaches, and anglers can tempt them to bite bucktail jigs, eel imitations, or live baits like menhaden.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are reporting action with sea mullet, spot, croaker, and a few red drum. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are fooling the fish in the breakers.
Inshore anglers are reporting plenty of action with red drum and flounder in the marshes and around ICW structure like docks.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers are seeing some puppy drum, pompano, sea mullet, bluefish, and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits. Some flounder are also falling for live and cut baits under the pier.
Dirty water over the weekend slowed the action with pelagic fish, but anglers landed several cobia last week on live baits and lures, and plug casters found good action with spanish mackerel and bluefish. Once the water cleans up again, the sight-feeders should return.
The water is 77 degrees.
