Swansboro September 13, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the shallow bays around Swansboro are surrendering red and black drum, sheepshead, speckled trout, flounder, and bluefish to persistent anglers.
Live shrimp are the hottest baits for the trout and black drum, while the reds are falling for live baits, topwaters, spinnerbaits, and Gulp baits on light jigheads.
Anglers should be able to find plenty of shrimp in the creeks off Bogue Sound, Queen’s Creek, and the White Oak River.
Red and black drum will also be feeding in the surf, where anglers can target the reds with a variety of baits fished on bottom rigs. Shrimp and crab baits will draw more attention from the crustacean-loving black drum.
September is typically an excellent month to target big flounder around Swansboro, both on nearshore structure in the ocean and on the internal waters. Outside or inside, Carolina-rigged live baits or bucktails tipped with Gulp baits will fool the flatfish.
Cooler weather in September will get the fall speckled trout bite into gear, but most of the fish will be between 1/2 and 2 lbs. The larger trout will become more numerous during October.
Boats are landing plenty of spanish mackerel while fishing around the inlet and beaches. Some of the best action has been around the Mudhole, just west of Bogue Inlet, on the falling tide.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum bite is on fire in Swansboro area waters. There are huge numbers of finger mullet working through the marshes behind Emerald Isle, Bear Island, and Hammocks Beach. Most of the drum are 22-26”.
Due to the large mullet populations, live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs offer the best chances of hooking up with the reds. Using a circle hook will reduce the possibility of gut-hooking the drum.
Those who want to fish with artificial lures can tempt the drum to strike topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, or Gulp baits.
Some drum are also feeding on the shoals and drop-offs near Bogue Inlet.
Flounder are feeding well around structure in the Coast Guard channel and in Bogue Inlet. Most of the flatfish are either barely legal fish in the 14-16” range or fat 3-5 pounders. A Carolina-rigged finger mullet is also the top flounder bait.
Sheepshead have begun to show up again beneath the high rise bridges. The recent rains from Tropical Storm Gabrielle should get the larger sheeps concentrated under the bridges instead of feeding in the marshes. Anglers targeting sheepshead should dangle a live fiddler crab next to the bridge pilings.
September’s cooler temperatures will trigger speckled trout to begin feeding heavily in Queen’s Creek and the White Oak River. The trout will have a tough time resisting a live shrimp fished underneath a float.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still catching red drum along grass edges and oyster bars in the marshes. The drum are a variety of sizes, from 15-34”. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulp baits, and live finger mullet or shrimp will all get attention from the drum.
Flounder fishing has been a little slow over the past week, but anglers are still hooking up with some (mostly small) flounder around the inlet and creeks. Live baits or Gulp shrimp are the ticket to flounder strikes.
Surf fishermen are landing pompano, spot, and whiting on shrimp, sand fleas, and Fish Bites.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are thick in the surf zone. Anglers can see them chasing glass minnows and other baits through the waves, then cast gold or silver spoons or free-line live baits into the surf to hook up.
Some large Hatteras bluefish are making an appearance in the surf zone. These brutes can weigh 5-15 lbs., and they will eat live and cut baits, spoons, and a variety of other artificials.
James, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the first spot runs of the year took place last week. Baiting up with bloodworms will ensure the best spot catches.
Anglers fishing cut baits on the bottom are catching a few puppy drum, and live baits are drawing attention from flounder.
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel.
A 24 lb. king was caught last week.
The water is 83 degrees.
