Fishing Report 04/29/2016

Sorry, we’re a little late with this week’s report:

 

Another spring week has brought better fishing but we’ve still had to deal with the wind.  The first of the week a north wind allowed anglers to hit the water.  This weekend's forecast is looking better for the Offshore anglers, so that means Inshore will be good too.  This weekend, the forecast is calling for winds 5 to 15 Offshore giving the big boats an opportunity to head out to the Bluewater.

Update – no reported Cobia yet but any day we’re expecting one to come to the scales.  We’ve been hearing of menhaden bait balls and Sea Turtles, so get ready.  Stop by the shop, we have all the tackle you need.  Just yesterday, a customer fished a bait ball got a hook-up thought it was a Cobia but turned out to be a large old Drum.

 

Inshore / Nearshore

The Turning Basin continues to produce very nice catches of Sea Mullets and Gray Trout.  Spec Rigs – Sam’s Gitters or Betts tipped with Fishbites/ Bait Shrimp is getting the best bite from the mullets.  The Grays can be caught on the same or by jigging a Stingsilver off the bottom plus a few Puffers and Hogfish. You won’t have any problem catching a good mess for the dinner table or your cooler.

Back in the creeks, the Haystacks and around the marsh you may come up on a school of Redfish. The best bait to use is Gulp on a Jighead or Popping Cork, Live Mud Minnows or Cut Mullet.  Reports of a few Speckled Trout are being caught along with Black Drum.

The Bluefish have made a good showing this week in the Beaufort Inlet and along the beach, plus Cape Lookout still has 3 to 4 lb Bluefish and Sea Mullet in the Inlet. 

The AR reefs out to the Hutton Wreck all have Flounder on them; the ticket for the anglers is a 2oz Spro or Blue Water Candy Jigs tipped with 4” White or Glow Glup Shrimp.  Also, real nice Bluefish in the 3 to 4 lb range are all around the reefs with schools of Bonita showing up too, you have to be ready to cast a metal lure because they aren’t staying up too long.  There’s plenty of Sea Bass hanging on the reefs too.

 

Piers / Surf

Piers -Anglers have enjoyed plugging Got-cha Plugs for the Bluefish this week.  Plenty are out there to be caught in the 3 to 4lb range.  The Sea Mullet bite continues to be very good along with Black Drum, Puffers, Hog Fish, Puppy Drum even a few Sheepshead, small Flounder and Pompano have come over the rails. Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Finger Mullet, Cut Mullet, Squid, Menhaden are all good choices of bait along with Fishbites.

Surf – Fort Macon and along the Surf is beginning to produce good catches of Bluefish, Black Drum, small Flounder, Sharks, Puffers and Redfish.

 

Offshore:

This week, Monday gave the offshore boats a chance to venture out to the Bluewater.  Wahoo, Gaffer Dolphin, Black Fin, and Yellow Fin all were caught.  Yesterday, another window opened up and boats returned with good catches.  The Big Rock, The Rise and The Swansboro Hole seem to be best places right now.  We have a good supply of Small, Medium, Large and Horse Ballyhoo in stock plus all the offshore lures you need.

As for the bottom angler, Black Sea Bass, Snappers and Grouper all are candidates to be caught and  good limits are coming in the boats.  Just a reminder Grouper Season opens May 1^st.