FISHING REPORT 06/08/2017

 

Looks like we have a great weekend coming our way, starting Friday we're seeing 5-10mph all the way through Monday. If this forecast holds, we should see great fishing over the next few days; also, it'll be nice to have good weather to kick off the Big Rock. The ladies event is Saturday with the big show starting Monday morning, it'll be an exciting time down at the Big Rock Landing on the Morehead City Waterfront all next week.

 

Inshore/Nearshore:

Spanish fishing's been great over the last week, a few days this week once you cleared the inlet there's been fish feeding everywhere. Anglers aren't having any problem finding limits of fish and catching them pretty quick. Right now is some of the best action of the season as we're right before the water heats up when they'll become a bit harder to catch. Trolling Clarkspoons and local Bowed-Up Spoons behind #1 Planers, Mackerel Trees and Birds with Squid Chains all will produce a catch. If you aren't into trolling good numbers are being caught by casting small jigs.  The new casting jigs we have in the shop are producing good numbers too. It always fun to fish when you match exactly what they are feeding on.  There's been plenty of fish out front of Fort Macon down the beach towards the Oceanana Pier and then back up toward Cape Lookout.  While you're looking for the Spanish you will find plenty of Bluefish in the mix to catch using the same lures as the Spanish.

Don’t count out the Cobia, we weighed some fish last weekend and a few this week. Most of the fish have been coming off the bottom now, I've not heard of any being sight fished. But keep in mind it’s going to be a pretty weekend with sunny skies and light winds so it’s very possible to run across some on top, so it’s not a bad idea to have a buck-tail rigged and ready to go. Cape Lookout area still seems to the best place where you might find one but we did weigh one that weighed 40lbs off the point at Fort Macon from a Surf angler fishing fresh dead shad he picked up at the shop. 

Starting to seeing some bigger Sheepshead move in, this past weekend we weighed a few over that 8lb mark which we haven't seen too much of.  Seems like every year around the Big Rock Tournament the larger fish start to appear. Now, I'm not saying it's wide open yet. This week, I talked with a few hard core sheepshead guys picking up bait who told me they had a pretty slow bite early this week.  The larger fish we've weighed has been caught on Live Sea Urchins which we do have in-stock plus we have Fiddler Crabs in-stock too. It’s always a good choice to take both when heading out.  The Port Wall, both High Rise Bridges Atlantic Beach and Beaufort or any concrete structures plus docks will have sheepshead hanging around. Patience is the key when fishing for these bait snatchers.

Redfish seem to be around in decent numbers, we had our Carolina Redfish Elite event last week over at the Big Rock Landing on the Morehead City Waterfront and the anglers saw great action. I haven't heard of many anglers talking about catching 40+ fish days in a while. The second place team told me they caught 60 on Saturday.  Anglers were seeing lots of fish in the 20 to 23″ range but there was two 8lb fish that were weighed in during the event which I haven't seen that in 10 years in this area. So, just maybe our Redfish fishery is on a re-bound as it's been off the last few years.  

The most positive info I was getting was that fish seemed to all over the place, North River, Middle Marsh, Haystacks, Core Creek and all way down the sound to the Swansboro marshes.  Best lures seemed to be Berkley Gulp Baits, along with Top Waters like Spook Jr’s, Rapala Skitter Walks, Mirrolure Top Dogs and Spinner Baits. I'd say the majority of the fish in the event were caught on these lures mention above.  Now, the easiest way to catch them is to fish Live Mud Minnows and Live Shrimp fished on a Carolina Rig or under a Popping Cork which we do have both Live Baits in-stock.  It’s very rare a Redfish is going to turn down live bait, as you can see them turn down artificial at times.

We're seeing some nice Speckled Trout come through the shop along with hearing there's some nice action going on. It's not often this time of the year that we see fish over 6lbs and we have weighed 3 over that mark in the last few weeks, had one that was almost 8lbs. Haystacks up to the Core Creek area right on into the Neuse seems to be holding the most fish. Most of the larger fish have come on Top-waters right at first light in the mornings. Also, we've been seeing good action on Carolina Rigs fished with Live Mud Minnows in the deeper holes around oyster bars and creeks. I'm already getting excited about our fall bite which was great last year, if things stay how it’s going now we could see another great bite coming our way.

If you are looking for something that will put on a good fight and test your tackle the Sharks have shown up in good numbers.  We have already ran a few trips behind the shrimp boats right along the beach and the sharks are feeding behind them. Don’t worry about what to use bait wise these big boys will eat anything you put over board.  Also, we have started seeing a few move inside the inlet around Shackleford  if you aren't into going out in the ocean.  Plus, there's some tackle testers called Amber Jacks that's been out around AR330 and over at the reefs on the East Side of the Cape.

Flounder fishing seems to be picking up at the reefs, starting to see limits coming off the reefs now.  AR315, 320, 330 and 285 all would be good choices to try, just keep in mind sometimes just the smallest hump will hold good numbers of fish.  Jigging Spro Bucktails 2oz in White and Glow colors tipped with Gulp 4” White Shrimp can't be beat when fishing the ocean waters. 

I've talked to a few anglers that''s been seeing some good action in the backwaters around the Haystacks and Core Creek area. Fishing the deeper ditches and docks along the waterway seems to be where the fish are holding. Now, for the inside water Live Mud Minnows seems to be working the best being the water is shallower than what you will find out at the reefs.

 

Piers / Surf:

Well, we weighed in a first the other day. A surf fisherman came by the shop with a 40lb Cobia, who said he caught it bottom fishing, Immediately I thought more than likely Cape Lookout then he said I caught it on your shad just off the beach at Fort Macon State Park, I guess you just never know what might bite. Not that Cobia is a rare catch right now but from the Surf at Fort Macon is kind of unheard of. This angler made up his mind to set up to fish for them from the beach and it paid off. So, this does show Cobia can be caught from our beaches you just have to be fishing the right way for them.

Still seeing good numbers of Spanish and Bluefish of the ends of the piers, plugging Got-cha plugs early in the morning and late in the day seems to be the best bite. I'd think with the good weather forecast of light winds this weekend, the water should get pretty clear and the fish should move in to feed. Also, there's been some Spanish Mackerel and Blues caught down on the point at Fort Macon. The new glass minnow jig we have in the shop has been working the best. It's the perfect size and heavy enough to cast out to reach the fish.

Bottom fishing seeing a mix Sea Mullets, Hog Fish, Croakers, Sharks, Rays, Bluefish, Drum and a few small Flounder moving in.  Not a lot of any, just getting into that summertime pattern when who knows what you might catch. Fishing with Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Squid and Mullet on the bottom also, maybe some Live Mud Minnows will get you some action.

 

Offshore:

Dolphin fishing has been great if you have been in the right area, which has been hard to pin point. One day it's been north of the Big Rock, next day south, next day right on top of the Rock, so what we're seeing there hasn't been any magic area. Now, we have been hearing start trolling around the 14 Buoy out toward the 90ft Drop to the Big Rock has been pretty constant on producing some fish. 

Wahoo fishing had really slowed down over a few weeks ago but for some reason this past week some Hoo's have shown back up.  Just the other day, we weighed the largest Wahoo we've ever weighed at the shop, topped the scale at 102lbs. Caught by two anglers just learning how to Offshore fish, the first Wahoo they had ever caught and caught it on a dead Cigar Minnow which is very unheard of when it comes to Wahoo fishing. Also, weighed a few more over the weekend from anglers trolling for Dolphin out around the Big Rock.  So, who knows they might stick around or they might move on, I guess we'll know after this weekend because looks like it’s going to be prefect to get back Offshore.

The hot Marlin bite has cooled off that we were seeing a few weeks ago, but I'm sure with the Big Rock coming up next week there will be some big boys brought to the scales. What we're hearing now, the fish have moved just north of us so I'm sure some of the boats will be making a good run to the Marlin grounds.

Bottom fishing has been pretty good; our charter fleet has been doing well on the Grouper over on the East Side of the Cape. We also have been weighing in some very nice Red Groupers at the shop this past week, some of the largest we've seen.  There's plenty of Amber Jacks starting to get on all of our reefs, plenty of Snappers and Bass on the bottom too. The Trigger Fish bite has been good but it seems to be more on off in that 35-40 mile range. But we have seen some in close also; just not any really huge numbers hanging close in.

 

BRAGGIN BOARD: