Fishing Report 07/30/2015

 

Inshore/Nearshore:

Spanish fishing has improved this week quite a bit over what it's been in the last few weeks. The north winds we've had has really turned the bite back on. The best action seems to be up at Cape Lookout but there's been plenty of keeper fish along the beaches. Casting with light tackle has been a lot better this week with Glass Minnow Jigs, 1/2oz Jig Fish Lures, Kastmasters and Spec-Rigs. This week and last weekend we've weighed quite a few larger Spanish from anglers Live Bait fishing for King Mackerel. AR315, the Shipping Channel and AR 285 all have been holding the bigger fish. Plus, while Spanish fishing you'll run across plenty of small Bluefish to catch using the same lures either by casting or trolling.

We've been seeing a lot of snake Kings this week, just the legal size to keep. We have weighed a few nice ones over that 20lb range but most are on the small size. The bigger fish seem to be over on the East Side of the Cape but with the East and Northeast Winds that has made that area pretty tough to fish. It looks like in the next few days the winds are going back to Southwest so that should really fire that side back up. Trolling Live Bait or Dead Cigar Minnows on Dead Bait Rigs will put some Kings in the boat.

The “Tackle Tester Amberjacks” are still in force at AR330 and AR285 dropping down Menhaden, Cigar Minnows or Sardines will all temp a Jack to biting. Then, if you're lucky enough for them to come up on top you can have some fun with Topwater Poppers.

There's been a few Shrimp Trawlers starting to shrimp off the beach and that means “BIG” Sharks. Each year when the shrimp boats start shrimping off the beach you can see some crazy action behind these boats. It pretty much doesn't matter what you put out there when the BIG Boys are in feeding mode on the fly or whatever you want they're gonna BITE.

Flounder fishing has been decent this week around the Port Wall seems like we're seeing more keepers than usual for this time of the year; but that's a good thing. It's still tough fishing in that area but there's a few keepers hanging in that deeper water around the Port. Live Minnows is working the best but some have been caught on 4” Berkley Gulp. With the lighter winds this week we've been seeing some Flounder being caught at the AR reefs. Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp Shrimp along with Live Minnows is the best bait when fishing the reefs.

The Old Drum fishing has started, last weekend I know some fish were caught all the way up in the mouth of South River. I talked with one customer that caught 6 or so last Saturday night. Crazy enough most that I've heard caught was on Dead Cigar Minnows off the bottom. That goes to show when they're there feeding, they'll hit just about anything.

This week we started putting up the fresh caught Menhaden getting ready for the bite. Also, we should start to get in some fresh Mullet, as of now we don't have any Corn Cobs in-stock as the jumbos have been hard to come by. But a good “Ole Fresh Shad” will work just about as good as anything because that's the old drum's main diet while in the river spawning. We have all the rigs tied up and combos ready to go. I've not heard of many being caught yet on artificial popping corks but I'm pretty sure if anglers are catching them at night the drum are there during the day. Look for the schools of bait and that’s where the fish will be.

As far as the smaller Red Drum and Speckled Trout action it’s still been very hit or miss, some fish around but not in any quanitity. If you get in the right area you can have some good action. Top Water Lures seem to be the go to lures right now.

Sheepshead fishing still good. It slowed down a bit during the last few weeks but this week we've started seeing fish again. Just yesterday, we weighed one that went over 10lbs. What I've been told by the diehard anglers about the moon and the sheepshead bite seems to have some truth in it. The Port Wall, Bridges and any hard bottom is holding fish. I talked with one customer that took Sea Urchins out at the Dead Tree Hole off the beach and caught good numbers of big fish. So, anywhere you can find structure or a hard bottom you have a good chance on finding fish. Live Sea Urchins and Live Fiddler Crabs is still the go to baits and we have both in-stock ready for action.

 

 

Piers / Surf:

There was some nice Black Drum action off the beach right at the Oceanana Pier last weekend and a few were caught up at Fort Macon fishing the rocks. The bite comes and goes some days it's good some days slow.

The anglers fishing off the piers are still catching good numbers of Spanish plugging Gotcha-Plugs along with mixed in Bluefish. Early in the mornings seems to be the best action, then when the sun comes up things slow down a bit.

A few Flounder is being caught right in the Surf Zone on Live Mud Minnows. I talked with one customer that took the ferry over to Shackleford Banks who fished from the beach and caught very good numbers of Flounder and some good keepers in the mix.

Bottom fishing still's the same with a mix bag from Sea Mullets, Hog Fish, Croakers, Pompano, Blue Fish, Spot and Sharks. Bait Shrimp, Squid, Mullet, Minnows, Finger Mullet and Bloodworms will all be good choices if you want to try some bottom fishing.

 

Offshore:

We've been weighing in some nice Wahoo over the last two weeks, most of the bigger fish has been caught from the East Side of the Cape or North of the Big Rock. It’s not too far off when we'll see Wahoo fishing back in full swing. Good thing about it, we have been saving some Ballyhoo all season to have the perfect baits when the Hoo’s show in full force.

Also, we've been writing quite a few Sailfish citations over the last week and they were caught not to far Offshore.

The Dolphin fishing has been very spread out from the Big Rock all the way into the beaches. When the water get as hot as it is they come closer to the beach and spread out a lot. Look for a good grass line or flying fish and you'll probably run into some Dolphin. The boats that have got into the right areas are having some really good luck on them. This week seems like we're seeing some larger fish that we haven't been seeing over the last few weeks. Trolling Medium Ballyhoo or Small will get the job done. 

 

 

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