Swansboro – May 29, 2014
Wayne Herndon, of Emerald Isle, with a tagged 29″ red drum he caught and released in a marsh behind Bear Island after it struck a chunk of mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are finding fast action with slot-sized red drum in the local marshes, and topwater plugs and cut mullet are tempting the reds to bite.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the local bridges, and anglers can tempt bites from both of the crustacean-lovers with cut shrimp or fiddler crab baits.
Flounder are beginning to show up on the nearshore reefs and other structure, where anglers can fool them while bouncing Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs off the bottom.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a few Atlantic bonito are chasing bait within a few miles of the beachfront. Anglers can find the fish by searching for surface activity or working birds, and then cast diamond jigs or other flashy lures into the action to hook up.
Amberjacks have shown up at bottom structure 8-15 miles out, where they’ll take an interest in live baits, vertical jigs, and topwater poppers.
Robbie, of Hall’em In Charters, reports that there’s still some good puppy drum action in the local marshes. Some schools of fish are around, but most seem to be feeding in smaller groups. They’re biting topwater plugs well on many days, and Gulps or live baits will do the trick when they don’t want to feed on top.
Bryanna Parker, of Emerald Isle, and Capt. Chesson O’Briant with a 56 lb. cobia that struck a live bait after turning down two artificials off Beaufort Inlet.
Flounder are feeding around docks and other structure in the ICW, but the bite has been good one day and slow the next. Gulp jerkshads or live mud minnows and mullet will get attention from the flatfish when they’re feeding.
Offshore, the dolphin bite has been excellent lately in 20-25 fathoms along the edge of the break. A few yellowfin tuna have been mixed in, and anglers are encountering some blue marlin as well. Skirted ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures are fooling the blue water pelagics.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some good cobia action within a few miles of the beachfront near Bogue Inlet. School of menhaden have shown up and many of the cobia have been following them, but anglers are also sight-casting to fish cruising by themselves. Bucktail jigs with soft plastic trailers and live menhaden have been fooling the cobes.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel are feeding along the beach as well and will fall for trolled Clarkspoons or metal casting lures like diamond jigs.
Flounder are starting to feed around bottom structure in 40-65’ of water off Bogue Inlet, and anglers are hooking them on bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Tara Hughes (age 20), of Kinston, NC, with a dolphin that bit a ballyhoo under a blue/white sea witch north of the Big Rock while she was trolling on the “Maverick.”
Dropping baits to structure further out in 65-100’ of water has been producing excellent catches of black sea bass and a host of other bottom dwellers. Squid and cut baits are tempting bites from the bottomfish.
There are still big numbers of dolphin feeding out along the break, and trolling skirted ballyhoo near weedlines or temperature breaks has been fooling plenty of the colorful fish.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing a few cobia just off the beach, and with more bait showing up, the bite should turn on in the coming days.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also feeding along the beachfront and will pounce on trolled Clarkspoons.
Anglers dropping bucktail jigs and bottom rigs to structure 3-10 miles out are connecting with black sea bass and flounder.
Surf casters are reporting action with sea mullet, black drum, pompano, and other bottom feeders, mostly on cut shrimp.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers working diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier are connecting with good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen have landed sea mullet, croaker, pompano, and puppy drum lately, mostly on shrimp.
