Swansboro October 15, 2009
Tim Thoman and Craig Jenkins with a pair of wahoo they hooked while trolling ballyhoo at the Swansboro Hole with Capt. Lynn Hinnant of Fishinnant Charters out of Sneads Ferry.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum bite is improving again after slowing down a few weeks ago. Anglers are finding the reds all over the area, from the beachfronts and inlets along the barrier islands to the marshes inshore and back in the rivers and creeks. Finding cleaner water seems to increase anglers’ chances of connecting with the reds, and they are hooking up on live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and other lures.
Some speckled trout are showing up in the sound, and anglers are finding them in the deeper cuts in the marshes. Live shrimp and a variety of lures will fool the specks.
Some gray trout are feeding in the inlet and at nearshore structure, and they’ll fall for jigging lures or live baits.
Spot have invaded the ICW, and boats are hooking big numbers while fishing the channel edges and intersections. Bloodworms are fooling most of the tasty bottom feeders.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait in the ICW and the inlet channel, and anglers are catching them on lures like Stingsilvers, soft plastics, and plugs when they’re feeding on top.
False albacore are feeding just outside the inlet and along the beaches, and lures like Maria jigs that imitate the glass minnows they’re feeding on will produce strikes from the albies.
After a few days of calmer winds, the king mackerel bite nearshore should be hot, and trolling live baits around nearshore structure and along the beaches should attract their attention.
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the big king mackerel bite is on along the beaches from Swansboro to Cape Lookout. Live pogies and other baits are tempting bites from the kings (most 10-30 lbs.), and drifting with the wind with baits on the surface has been the most productive lately.
Inshore, there’s been an excellent black drum bite in the creekmouths behind Emerald Isle and Bear Island. Live shrimp on slip float and Carolina rigs have been producing most of the action.
Red drum are working the flooded grass in the marshes on high tides and feeding in the surf zone as well. Gulp baits on appropriately sized jigheads will fool the reds in both places.
Gray trout are moving into the inlet and feeding around the nearshore live bottoms and reefs. Jigging Stingsilvers or spec rigs tipped with shrimp just off the bottom will fool the grays.
The speckled trout bite should only improve as October wears on.
John Suralik, of Morehead City, with a 20 lb. king mackerel he hooked on the east side of Lookout Shoals while slow-trolling live pogies with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Chesson, of CXC Charters, reports that amberjacks have invaded the structure within 10 miles of Bogue Inlet, and anglers are finding fast action with them while fishing live baits and working vertical jigs and topwater plugs.
King mackerel are feeding heavily around the alphabet buoys, and they should make a move towards the beaches in the coming week. Slow-trolling live baits will produce action with the kings, but anchoring up and kite fishing or drifting live baits will also produce.
Night fishing around structure in the same range is producing decent action with gag grouper on live baits.
Flounder are feeding on structure closer to the beaches, and anglers are hooking big numbers on live baits and bucktails, though working through the undersized fish to find the keepers can be tough.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are chasing bait near the beaches, and anglers can hook up with both on small live baits.
McKenna Fulcher (age 10) with a 25" spanish mackerel she hooked in Beaufort Inlet while trolling Clarkspoons with her father after dark.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen are landing excellent numbers of pompano, whiting, and spot on bloodworms, artificial bloodworms, and fresh shrimp.
Flounder are also feeding well in the surf, and anglers are catching good numbers of keepers from the beach and piers on 4” Gulp baits pinned to stand-up jigheads.
A few gray trout are also on the feed in the breakers, and they’re falling for Gulp baits and bottom rigs.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are chasing bait along the beaches, and Flutter jigs and other casting spoons are tempting them to strike.
The king mackerel bite has been good in Beaufort Inlet and around the Hutton. Live baiting with pogies is the best strategy for the kings.
Working diamond jigs at offshore structure has been producing excellent catches of black sea bass and triggerfish.
Billy, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports an excellent spot bite, with anglers filling coolers up. Bloodworms are producing most of the fish.
Pompano and whiting are also falling for bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and shrimp.
Flounder are feeding near the pier, and anglers are catching a few on small live baits.
Anglers are also finding some spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and other metal lures.
Live baiters landed one 24 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
