Fishing Report 06/11/2015

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

We're still seeing Cobia being caught, it's nothing like it was a few weeks ago, but fish are still coming to the scales. It's getting late in the season, so now what we're seeing is 20 to 40lb fish that are some of the last to move on. I'd say, we've had an average run of Cobia this year, nothing too crazy but there for about two weeks it was pretty hot and heavy. There's still going to be a few around the Cape and when it gets late into the Cobia season we start to see them caught in the sound in the deeper holes. But don’t pass up a bait ball if you see one you just never know what might be swimming around it. Last year, we saw Cobia all the way up to July and how it's been I see the same thing happening this year also.

Over the last week, we've had a surprise visit from the Chopper Blue Fish because they usually have came and gone by early May, but I guess it's better late than never. This week, some anglers have found some good action up around the Cape on the flats. If you can find them in water 1ft or less you can have some of the most exciting fishing you'll ever experience. I had a customer show me a video he shot earlier this week and it was crazy, 10 lb. Blue Fish crushing Top Dogs out of the water. When you hook one, hold on because it will pull like crazy and jump just like a Tarpon in the Florida Keys. If you want to try your luck, the Cape Lookout area will probably be the best on the flats and shallow water on the Shoals. If they're there you'll see them running in schools and they aren't hard to locate.

Spanish fishing has been good but we've seen a push of bigger fish move in this week. Last weekend, we weighed in one that went over 7lbs. Also, I know south of us has been seeing some good fish in the 6lb range being caught over the last week. As far as just catching eating sized fish, trolling Clarkspoons around the inlet and along the beaches should get you all you want. One of our customers caught over 50 just yesterday so there's good numbers right now.

We're starting to see the bigger Sheepshead move in. Just this week, we weighed the first one over 10lbs. Also, I've been hearing of a few in the 8lb range, so it looks like we're going to have a good season. Over the last few weeks, we've been seeing good numbers of 4lb fish so things should just get better and better. Bridges, Docks and the Port area will be the best places to fish for them. There's no secret spot you just have to move around from piling to piling until you find some fish. We have a good supply of Live Fiddler Crabs and Sea Urchins in-stock ready for action.

Flounder fishing is still pretty good at the nearshore reefs with fish being caught using Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4” Gulp Shrimp, along with Live Mud Minnows. We've seen some nicer fish being caught inside the inlet. We weighed one that was right at the 6lb mark caught around the Coast Guard Station. So, from what we've seen so far it seems like there's a good stock of fish this year. Hopefully, we'll continue seeing good action the rest of the summer. Bridges, Docks, and around the Port area will all be good places to fish for action. Really, anywhere you have some kind of structure you'll have a good chance of finding some fish. Berkley Gulp and Live Mud Minnows will be the go to bait.

This Saturday, we are having our  2nd Event of the season in the “Carolina Redfish Series”. Two weeks ago, at the 1st Event fishing was somewhat slow but just over this past week the shrimp have moved into the backwaters improving the bite greatly. The Captain's Meeting will be held this Friday night at the shop between 5:30 – 7:00, so come enter the tournament, join the fun and have a chance to win some money plus great prizes for 1st – 10th place will be awarded.

 

There's been some great Amber Jack fishing going on at reefs like AR330, AR285 and the Atlas Tanker. If you want a tug on your line these fish will do it for sure. Also, once you get them up off the reefs you can have some crazy Topwater crushing action. We have the plugs in the shop just for big Amber Jack fishing so stop on by and pick some up. Trust me if you have never caught one-  they will test your tackle for sure.

Piers / Surf:

We've not seen that many Chopper Blue Fish caught this week off the Surf. It seems most of the fish have moved up toward Cape Lookout. But there's still plenty of smaller ones being caught on mullet and Got-cha plugs. Spanish fishing is doing well early in the morning and late into the day from the end of the pier. There's been a few caught up at Fort Macon at high tide. Casting a Kastmaster will catch them if they come in close enough to catch them from the surf.

As for the bottom, you have a chance to catch Red Drum, Black Drum, Sea Mullet, Spot, Pompano, Hog Fish, Flounder and Blue Fish. It's that time of the year, when you're going to find a mix bag. Bait Shrimp, Cut Mullet, Bloodworms and Live Mud Minnows will all be good choices when heading to the beach.

Offshore:

Well, it’s been all about the “57th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament” this week and so far there's been a lot of action with 4 fish weighed in on Monday and one yesterday. On Tuesday, only 4 boats went out, as it was pretty rough seas.  The rest of the week looks like good weather so I have a feeling it's far from over. The bite has been so good over the last few weeks that this just might be one of those years when it could be won on Saturday, the last day of fishing.

Besides the Billfish action, the Dolphin action still remains pretty good. Last weekend, boats fishing around the 14 Buoy saw some decent action. You might be surprised when I say this but there were reports of Dolphin being caught at AR315 last week. The water has gotten hot quick and when that happens they move toward the beach and spread out so who knows where you might run across them.

As for the bottom fishing, the boats are catching Trigger Fish, Sea Bass, Grouper and plenty of Snapper. You can find action close in as Northwest Places but your best action will be out on the ledges around the 14 Buoy. Squid, Cigar Minnows, Menhaden and Mackerel will all be good choices off the bottom. 

 

 

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