Fishing Report 08/20/2015

 

It looks like we have another perfect forecast for the weekend coming up. Again, with winds coming out of the North and sunny skies so, let's hope we see some more good fishing like last weekend.

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Old Drum fishing in the Neuse River has been pretty good. It will only get better as we get into the peak of it over the next few weeks. The Popping Cork fishing has been hit or miss this week. Some anglers are hooking up but others aren't having that much luck. When it comes to Old Drum and artificial it’s all about being at the right place at the right time. Look for the bait, that’s where the fish will be and keep a look out for schooling fish busting the water. The bait anglers have been boating more fish this week, which that’s going to happen when you have bait soaking on the bottom. The bite at night has been better than during the day but anglers are catching them during the daylight hours. We do have fresh mullet in stock this weekend for anyone wanting to try catching a huge Red Drum. Feel free to stop by the shop and we can point you in the right direction to find some action.

Spanish fishing has really fired off over the last week. Things slowed down a bit when the winds turned back around to the South but it looks like starting Friday the winds will be back out of the North for a few days. When that happens the fish will school up and feed like crazy again. Mostly this week there has been big schools of Spanish working the Shoals off Fort Macon Point, the Inlet and at Cape Lookout.

We haven't had any trouble getting plenty of action casting to them on light tackle. Sea Striker Diamond Jigs, Jig Fish, Spec Rigs, Stingsilvers and Glass Minnow Jigs all have been working very well. If you're not into casting, trolling Clarkspoons on #1 Planers and trolling weighs have been working very well, along with Birds, Squid Chains and Mackerel Trees. There's been some larger Spanish hanging out around AR 315 being caught on Live Finger Mullet. We now have them in stock, finally schools have gotten big enough for us to start stocking good numbers of them in our tanks. Also, Bluefish are schooling up in the same areas as the Mackerel. The size of the Blues has been pretty impressive, lots of 3 to 4lb fish being caught on the same lures as the Spanish. But, we've been having some good Topwater action with them, which has really been fun, a 4lb Bluefish will crush a Topwater Lure.

 

 

We saw a good King Mackerel bite last weekend, with some nice fish coming to the scales for this time of the year. One boat had a 45lb, 35lb and a 30lb King, which is great for August usually we see more action like that in October. Most of the Kings have been caught at AR 285,1700 Rock and around Cape Lookout. The best action we saw was last Friday then Saturday the bite slowed a bit with only 30 some fish being caught in the Sneads Ferry King Tournament. But the weather is looking perfect for this weekend so, I've got a feeling we're gong to see another “HOT BITE” fire off. Also, a few have been caught in the Shipping Channel on out toward the Sea Buoy.

I've not heard much on the Albacore this week. I don’t know if we just had some schools get pushed in and left or what. Once the winds switch back around to the North it should bring some fish back toward the beach ready to feed again. If you're out this weekend just keep your eyes open for a lot of bird action and that’s usually a good sign of feeding Albacore.

Flounder fishing still remains good, the AR reefs are still producing limits of Flounder. We have a few customers that have been catching quantities off the reefs. Most of the action is coming off Spro 2oz White or Glow Bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp 4” White Shrimp (the perfect combination). Also, Live Minnows fished on Carolina Rigs have been producing a few bites. It seems to be good numbers of Flounder on the inside because I've been hearing the giggers are doing pretty well at night. Also, we have been weighing some nice fish coming from the Port Wall, patience is the key to fishing there. Anglers fishing the creeks and backwaters with Live Minnows and Berkley Gulp aren't having too much trouble bringing a few home for dinner.

 

Sheepshead fishing has been slower than what we were seeing back in July. But we're still seeing some nice fish come into the shop. Last week, we weighed a few over the 8lb mark along with this week too. Fish are still around just not biting hot and heavy. The Port Wall and the bridges will be the best places to fish with Live Fiddler Crabs and Live Sea Urchins which we still have both in stock.

 

Amber Jack fishing has been good this week at AR330, with some big boy action. Capt.Chris took a party out this week and they had a blast pulling on some 50 fish that have moved in. AJ's have to be one of the hardest pulling fish you can catch so close to the beach.

 

 

Surf / Piers:

Anglers have seen some better Spanish action this week. There's been some good catches a few mornings with keepers coming over the rails, along with Bluefish for the anglers plugging. There were a few King Mackerel caught down at the other end off Bouge Pier this past week also. Bottom fishing still remains the same with a few Sea Mullets, Spots, Hog Fish, Croakers, Bluefish and Pompano. The best bait is fresh Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Fresh Mullet and Squid. I had a customer come by the shop last weekend showing me some pictures of a nice catch of Black Drum and Red Drum that he caught from the Surf Zone on Sand Fleas.
 

 

Offshore:

Well, I think Wahoo season has officially started with some nice catches this past week. We weighed a few in last weekend and this week a boat came by with 7. I know the boats on the waterfront have been bringing them back to the docks in good numbers over the last few days. Most of the action has been from the Big Rock North but I've heard of a few caught South around the Swansboro Hole. The hot lure has been the Blue Water Candy Jag-a-Hoo in Purple/Black, Fathom Wahoo Bombs, Wahoo Jets and Medium to Large Ballyhoo pulled on Islanders or Jags in the darker colors.

Last week, we stocked up the Wahoo section here in the shop so, we should have you covered. The Hoo’s are just showing up, fishing is only going to get better as we get more toward the fall. We did weigh a few Dolphin this week but the bite has slowed way down, if you're out trolling you still might catch a few. The next few weeks into September we'll see another push of nicer fish show back up with the water cooling down.

The bottom fishing is still good over on the East Side around the Atlas Tanker out to the 1700 Rock and around the 14 Buoy out to the 90ft Drop is seeing some good action. Mostly Sea Bass, Trigger Fish, Snappers and Groupers have been coming in on the boats.

 

 

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