Fishing Report 04/13/2017

 

Man, what great weather we've had to start off Easter Week and Spring Break for the kids, having light winds since last Saturday. Looks like some wind tonight, back to 10 tomrrow, then back to 5-10 come Saturday morning for anglers to reach the Offshore fishing grounds again.  As far as the Inshore and Nearshore forecast things are looking pretty good to get out on the water and enjoy some of the great fishing we've seen this week.

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

The talk around the town has been Chopper Bluefish because the last two years we haven't seen a run of these fish. But this Spring has been totally different, since last weekend we've been seeing lots and lots being caught from AB Beach up to Cape Lookout. These fish are running anywhere from 8lbs up to 15lbs.  The Shoals at Cape Lookout seem to be holding the numbers of fish in the shallow water but we have been hearing of fish all up and down the beaches.

Piers have been catching them along with the Surf anglers.  When it comes to catching this beast; they haven't been real picky on what they'll eat. A lot of anglers are catching them on Top Water Plugs, Jig Fish Lures, Kastmasters, Stingsilvers and Hopkins Lures.  Also, we have reports of seeing tons of 2 to 3lb fish around the inlets and along the beach; either by casting lures or trolling. One of our charter captains had a Bluefish trip yesterday and caught all they wanted trolling Clarkspoons and Bowed-up Spoons along the beach.

Starting to see the Albacore move back in along with the Bull Redfish, we had a charter out yesterday that caught all they wanted of both just off the Cape Lookout area, just look for the birds and more than likely it’s going to be feeding Bull Red Drum, Albacore or Bluefish.  

Been getting a lot of calls about teh Bointo, we have now seen any off our beach yet, but some of our firends south of us starting picking up some thsi week. So with teh warm weather we are seeing they coudl be at our reefs like AR315 and AR320 anyday. 

Some anglers have been seeing some good action on the smaller Redfish in the Bays around Core Creek over the last week, fishing with Berkley Gulp baits and I've heard of some fish hitting Top-water lures and Live Mud Minnows.

Sea Mullet action still going strong. Last weekend and this week we've seen catches up to a 100 fish per trip. Most of the action seems to be in the Port area but we have seen some good catches still around the 18 Buoy in the inlet too. These schools of fish are working back and forth between the two. Some days they're out in the deeper water some days they're back as far as you go into the No Wake Zone in the Turning Basin. Still Sam's Gitters Spec Rigs are working the best tipped with Bait Shrimp and Fishbites.  The key to filling your cooler is keep moving around to find the fish, once you locate them it’s been pretty easy to catch'um.

Still seeing plenty of Blow Fish (Puffers) along the beach up to the Cape, some people don't like to catch them but if you're willing to clean them it’s some of the best fish you'll eat from the ocean.  Pretty simple to catch to 2 drop bottom rig tipped with shrimp fishing along the beach is pretty much all you need to do.

Gray Trout fishing has been on FIRE. Tim, the “Trout Man” from the shop has been fishing this week and tagging fish over at the Railroad Tracks and along the AB Bridge.  He fished just a few hours the other afternoon and tagged around 50 or so. So, I'd say action is pretty good, he's been having the best luck jigging Sting-silvers off the bottom in the Chrome color.

Not seeing lots of Flounder yet but Nick from the shop fished last Sunday at some of the AR Reefs and came across a few keepers. So they are strtaing to move toward the beaches, so we should see more and more stacking up at teh reefs. Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4″ Berkley Gulp Shrimp will be the best choice when jigging the reefs. Been a few caught around the turning basin area aslo but again no huge numbers, but are seeing a few keepers showing up in the backwaters, Live Mud Minnows would be a good choice. 

Speckled Trout fishing has been great over the last few weeks with not that many anglers fishing for them. We have been seeing them in the same spots you'd fish for them in the fall. Just the other day we weighed a fish in the 5lb mark, been talking to a few anglers that's having no problem catching their limit of fish.  On up Core Creek toward the Neuse River also has been a good area, most all the creeks off the waterway have fish in them.  Z-man Lures, Mirrolure 17MR’s, Yo-Zuri Twitch Baits, Halo Shad and Shrimp all have been working well plus Live Mud Minnows.

 

Piers / Surf:

Hatteras Bluefish have been keeping anglers busy this week, most of the piers have been seeing them coming through along with the surf anglers fishing the beaches.  What we know the best way to catch them from the beach has to be the Sea Striker Finger Mullet Float Rig.  There's something about this rig in the Surf that just attracts these big fish. Also, seeing good numbers of smaller fish in the 2 to 3lb range so good Bluefish action going on Finger Mullet and Cut Mullet will be the go to choice for bait for the Bluefish. You can also catch them by casting metal to them; Jig Fish Lures and Kastmasters are hard to beat from the beach.

Also, Puffer Fish, Sea Mullets are being caught off the bottom along the beaches; most are fishing bottom rigs tipped with Bait Shrimp and Fishbites. Plus, we've seen a few Red Drum and Black Drum up at Fort Macon State Park.

 

Offshore:

Wahoo fishing has been pretty good over the last week, it's not very often we have 5 days straight where boats can get out. We saw all kinds of weights from fish in the 30lb range up to 100lbs. Now, the bite has kind of been all over the place, one day it’s at the Swansboro Hole, then next day nothing. Seeing the same results at the Big Rock area one day it’s been good fishing next has been slow.  We have weighed a few Wahoo that have been caught in as close as the 90ft Drop area. Seems there are patches of fish and if you get around them you'll have no problem catching fish.

No secret lures, Cow Bells, Sea Witches, Jags, Houdini’s and Hood Bombs all in dark colors have been working well. We have most of these lures rigged and ready to go on cable at the shop, along with plenty of Ballyhoo. 

Also, anglers are catching Black Fin Tuna and a few have been lucky enough to catch some Yellow Fins.

Bottom fishing has been good; plenty of Sea Bass over on the East Side bottoms close in. Go on out in that 30 to 40 mile range you'll find Trigger Fish and Snappers. Anglers are itching, just two more weeks and Grouper Season will open and from what we're hearing there's good numbers waiting to be caught. 

 

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