It has been a while since my last report but that means the fishing has been super good. There is plenty of bait around and preadators to eat them. We have been finding big schools of finger mullets cruising the waterway early in the morning. There have been plenty of shrimp in Queens creek and the White Oak River. There continues to be massive schools of pogies in the waterways and creeks inside.
The fishing has been very good. We have been finding good numbers of Redfish (puppy drum) in the marshes and around the docks and structure in the ICW. We have been landing most of these fish on topwaters (Mirrolure Topdawg 21 or 808 color) in the morning and gold spoons and spinner baits (Strike King Redfish Magic Pearl). They have also been falling for scented soft plastics such as gulps and trigger X. Live baits such as shrimp and mullets is also a great way to target these reds. You should find good success by using a live bait under a rattle cork or behind a light weighted carolina rig. Just remember when fishing for reds always use circle hooks so the fish stands a lesser chance of swallowing the hook.
The speckled trout bite has cooled some in the Swansboro area we are still finding a few specks around all the oyster bars and grass flats behind the barrier islands such as Emerald Isle, Bear, and Browns. You can also find these fish staging at creek mouths along the ICW on an out going tide. The bait of choice for speckled trout is live shrimp under slip cork rig. A live mullet on a caroling rig is typically what your bigger specks will fall for. Artificals that will work are Mirrolure's MR 17 and MR 27 in the 21 and 808 colors. Scented soft plastics such as gulps and Trigger X shrimp or jerk shads on light jig heads will also temp a speck strike.
Flounder have really made a strong showing the last couple of weeks. We have been landing big numbers of fish at the nearshore structures and live bottoms. Alot of throw backs but good numbers of keeper size fish mixed in. In the ocean we have been bouncing white 2oz. bucktails tipped with 4" gulp shrimp. We also have been catching them with live mullets rigged on Carolina rigs with 1-1/2 oz egg sinkers. Inshore the bite has been similar with good numbers of fish with some being keepers. Live mullets on carolina rigs seem to be your best bet inside the inlets.
The nearshore fishing has seemed to cool down a bit. We have been finding a few big Spanish mackerel and a few kings mixed in with them but the bite has been slow. The water temps have stayed in the 82-85 degrees range and that is a little warm. There have been some big schools of Amberjacks in the 5-14 mile range. They have been feeding hard and have been easy to temp a strike from.
If you are in the Emerald Isle, Atlantic beach, or Swanboro area and you want to get on some of the best fishing North Carolina has to offer give Capt. Robert Hall a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com
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