Fishing Report 04/21/2016

 

It was good to see some decent weather days this week; after last weekend's blow. Looks like by Saturday, we're going to be down around 10kts. We won't know what to do with winds that light going into a weekend because the last few have been pretty breezy. The weekend should allow anglers to get out and do some fishing which has been pretty good this week.
 

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Since the winds have laid out some anglers have tried their luck back at the Sea Mullets. Sam, that makes “Sam's Gitters” spec-rigs reported back yesterday that there's still good numbers of mullets to be caught. He fished a few hours and caught 30 or so nice sized fish. From the Turning Basin area back toward the Beaufort Inlet seems to be where the majority of fish are hanging. Spec-Rigs tipped with Fishbites and Bait Shrimp are working the best. Along with the mullets, you'll find Hog Fish, Croakers, Gray Trout and Bluefish all mixed in along the bottom. We've seen some nice Gray Trout beginning to get around the AB High Rise Bridge, this week anglers have had some good luck at night fishing the lights.

We made it back into the ocean this week checking out the reefs and found some pretty good action. AR330 is holding some good Flounder plus there's some close in as AR320. Spro 2oz and Sea Striker 2oz Bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp 4” White Shrimp is producing most of the fish along with Live Mud Minnows.

Along with the Flounder, Sea Bass fishing has been real good, jigging Stingsilvers, Bluewater Candy Roscoe Jigs and Squid all are working for the bass. One of our charter boats got into some of the largest Sea Bass he's seen all year over on the East Side just a few days ago.

Bluefish have moved in thick this week, with very good numbers showing up around the Beaufort Inlet area. Also, anglers are having good action at the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty. The Blues are running in the 2 to 3lb range, Topwater Plugs or Metal Jigs are working the best for action. Also, trolling Clarkspoons around the inlet will produce very good numbers of fish. These cold water Bluefish are some of the best Blues you'll eat all year.

We're still seeing the same from the creeks, Red Drum, Black Drum and Speckled Trout. I can't report crazy action just some fish here and there. This week, I talked with a few anglers reporting they're starting to see more and more Speckled Trout showing up in the Neuse River area. As far as finding Redfish, I'm hearing of some good fish being caught but most have been from AB Bridge back down the sound that I know of.

I've been getting a lot of calls on Bonita, try scouting out around the AR reefs.  I won't be one bit surprised if some aren't caught this weekend in our area. Trolling Yo-Zuri DD's in the small sizes usually is the best way to catch them. Unless, you find them schooling then cast Epoxy Glass Minnows Jigs at them.
 

 

Piers / Surf:

This week, more Bluefish are showing up along the beaches. I'd say in the near future, we should start to see some Chopper Bluefish make a showing. These Blues are always a fun fish to catch from the pier or off the beach. Dead Finger Mullet on a Finger Mullet rig is a great way to catch the Choppers.

This week, both piers the Oceanana and Bogue are still seeing some good runs of Sea Mullets working up and down the beach.

Black Drum action has been decent with some fish being caught, one lady angler caught a monster of a drum late last week that weighed in at 65lbs. There's some big boys swimming around so be on the look out and be ready. Good action with the drum has been on the Oceanana all week plus in the surf around the pier.

Croakers, Hog Fish, Puffer Fish, Skates and Sharks are the other bottom feeders you'll come across while bottom fishing. The bait to use is Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms and Squid.  We are beginning to see a few Pompano even being caught this week.

 

Offshore:

Same story as before “WIND” kept most boats at the docks this past week. The weather is improving and the winds are beginning to give anglers a chance to hit the Bluewater. I know of some boats going to give it a go today, so I should get some solid reports back.

It looks like we're going to get a weather window this weekend.  I know from earlier when we could make it out the fish are somewhere between the Swansboro Hole back toward the Big Rock area. Offshore anglers should run into Wahoo, Black Fin and should start catching some Dolphin in the mix.

As for the bottom fishing, it’s been pretty good. A few boats did make it out earlier this week closer to shore and came back with nice Sea Bass, Trigger Fish and a few Snappers. I'm hearing of some good Grouper action so, come May 1st it shouldn't be a problem catching you a limit since the fishery has been closed all winter. 

 

 

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