FISHING REPORT 09/15/2016

Well, I think it’s safe to say we're moving out of our summer pattern and right into some of the best fishing of the year. Just in the last week or so with the cooler temps and north winds blowing; the fishing has really picked up and only will get better and better over the next few weeks.

Inshore / Nearshore:

The Spanish bite has been very good over the last few days. Anglers are catching lots of fish along the beaches and around the Beaufort Inlet area. Our charter boats have been having no issue filling limits on the morning or afternoon trips. Casting small lures like Jig Fish, Glass Minnows Jigs, Heavy Glass Minnows Jigs and trolling Clarkspoons all have been working great. Also, we've been seeing some good action on the larger fish at the AR reefs using Live Finger Mullet which we do have in-stock. In the mix of the Spanish action, there's good numbers of 2 to 4lb Bluefish out around Rough Point casting small lures. Plus, anglers have been catching good numbers of Albacore moving in on the beaches along with small Jacks. Seems the best of the Albacore action has been more toward the Cape Lookout area.

I've been getting calls about King Mackerel but we haven't seen that many this week. I have been hearing of some small fish being caught around the Reefs but haven't weighed any big fish. But I've a feeling with the other fish schooling up and getting so active along the beach the “Big Boy Kings” will be moving in to take advantage of some easy meals.

We have been weighing in some nice Flounder over the last week; most of them have been caught around the Port Wall in the Turning Basin but I've weighed a few nice ones that's been caught along some of the docks in the ICW. Also, there's still some good action at the reefs but it’s getting that time of the year when the larger Flounder will be caught inside. Don’t know what it is about the Port Wall come this time of the year but for the next month or so that will be the “HOT SPOT”. Live Minnows have been the best bait but the largest Flounder we've weighed this week came off a Live Shrimp in 3' of water.

Sam, our Sea Mullet master of Sam's Gitter's Spec Rigs called me the other day and said the Sea Mullets were starting to move in the area. He caught 20 or so nice ones this week fishing the Beaufort Inlet area, along with some nice Gray Trout. There's been some nice Gray Trout hanging around the Railroad Tracks and the AB Bridge too.

Lots of anglers are starting to look for Spots but I've not seen any good catches yet. I did talk to a guy yesterday that bought some Bloodworms that said he caught a few the other day. They're catching them good just north of us so any day we should start to see some come through our area.

The Red Drum fishing in the river has been decent this week. We have ran a few Red Drum charters this week and had some really good luck. It for sure has been an off year on the Old Drum this season but still plenty of fish are being caught. Best action seems to be coming at night with the Bait Soakers but there's been plenty caught during the day this week on artificial.

The yearling Red Drum are hanging more toward the Grass Banks, Live Shrimp or Minnows under Popping Corks have been working the best. Also, seeing some action around the Core Creek area on the smaller fish in the finger creeks and the marsh areas.

Piers / Surf:

We are starting to see the fall Surf Zone bite turn on! This week, we've seen a great Red Drum bite along the beach, from the Oceanana Pier down to Fort Macon Park area seems to the best. Most have been from 18 to 30 inch fish so some really nice fish is being caught. Dead Finger Mullet fished on a Drum Rig has been working the best; we do have some fresh in and should have a good supply for the weekend. But if we run short, anglers have been seeing just as good luck on frozen and cut mullet too.

The Bluefish bite had slowed down but now they've moved back to the beaches as anglers have been seeing plenty of action most of the week. There's good action on the Spanish off the end of the piers and even some have come close enough at Fort Macon beach to cast to them from the beach. Small lures seem to working the best Kastmasters, Jig Fish, Glass Minnows and Heavy Jigs have been working great since you can sling them far out.

As for the bottom feeders not seen any runs start yet but some Sea Mullets have been caught this week. It won't be long now when we should see good numbers of Mullets and Spots start to run back down the beaches. So, if you like to Surf Fish things are starting to pick up.

Offshore:

The Wahoo bite's getting better and better! It's been a challenge keeping up with the location of the fish but they are for sure out there to be caught. One day the bite will be south toward the Swansboro Hole then the next few days it will be North. Over the last week, the best action we've seen has been Northern part of the Big Rock area. Also, anglers have caught a few Black Fin Tuna in the mix with a stray Dolphin from time to time. But from now through the fall, the Wahoo will be the name of the game.

The bottom fishing action still remains very good, every Grouper trip we have ran over the last week or so the boats have came back with limits of fish without any issues. Along, with the Grouper action; anglers are catching Trigger Fish and nice Sea Bass along with plenty of Snappers. Most of the best action seems to be East of the Cape in 90 to 100ft water.

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