Fishing Report 03/23/2016

 

Easter weekend is coming up fast and it looks like the weather is shaping up to be pretty decent. I don’t know yet if the Offshore forecast is going to allow boats to make it out to the Wahoo grounds. However, Nearshore and Inshore is looking pretty good as of now; we all know that could change in a days' notice. I'm just glad to see the warm weather come back because the first of the week was pretty chilly. I can't report that much has changed from last week's report but with the warm weather we've had already for sure it's got things going.

Inshore / Nearshore: 

Sea Mullets are still being caught from the Beaufort Inlet area and now back more in the Turning Basin area. It seems the larger fish are holding in the deeper water around the inlet but reports are a few have made their way toward the Turning Basin. Spec Rigs tipped with Bait Shrimp and Fish Bites are working the best, just keep in mind the fish are there but it might take some searching to find the schools moving in. I know of a few boats that caught well over 50 fish in a few hours last weekend.

Just in the last few days, the Croakers have move in around the Turning Basin area. They seem to be on the small side but anglers are catching a few nice ones for the cooler. Can't report any Spots, Gray Trout or Hog Fish yet but I expect to start seeing some make a showing over the next week or so. Who knows it could be this Easter weekend coming up.

I know the Black Sea Bass are still just off the beach at the Nearshore reefs. I've not seen any this week since the weather and winds haven't been all that great to get in the ocean. So if the weather holds, I don’t see any problem finding some action at AR330 or AR285 this weekend. Squid fished on the bottom will get the job done.

Last weekend, we saw some pretty good Redfish action in the marsh areas. Already, customers have been reporting fish being caught on Topwater Lures and some very nice fish at that. There's been good numbers of fish in the Bogue Sound area. The Haystacks and Core Creek areas are producing some fish moving in to feed.

 Along, with the Redfish action picking up we've seen a decent Speckled Trout bite over the last week. The Haystacks, Core Creek and Adams Creek are all holding fish with nice keeper fish being caught. Mirrolures, Live Mud Minnows, Gulps, Z-Man Lures, Halo Shad, Halo Shrimp all seem to be working when you can find the fish. Really, I'm glad to see some better class fish being caught, I'd say some of the smaller fish we had last fall stayed around this winter and now are starting to feed again.

 

Piers / Surf:

Both the Oceanana and Bogue Piers are now open for business ready for the FISH to show up. Things have been slow but if you like to catch Puffer Fish it’s been pretty good for them. Just last night I heard of a nice catch of Sea Mullets off the Oceanana Pier from a customer that caught 40. I did hear of a few Blue Fish caught but it’s been very few. Only thing I can report there's plenty of Stingrays being caught; not the perfect ideal catch but they do pull pretty well on the line when there's not that much to catch. The Surf Zone is seeing the same action along the beach. Bait Shrimp, Mullet, Squid and Live Mud Minnows would all be good choices if you were going to try your luck over Easter Weekend.
 

Offshore:

Unfortunately, there's not much to report from the Bluewater this week, winds have kept boats tied to the docks. It kind of stinks since the fishing seems to be pretty good around the Swansboro Hole back up toward the Big Rock. Good numbers of Wahoo’s and Tunas have been coming to the docks when the winds allow anglers to make it off.

So, I guess the only thing we can do is watch the weather windows and take advantage of the good days. A few bottom boats made it out last weekend and brought back Sea Bass, Snappers, AJ’s and few other bottom feeders. I can report pretty good fishing in the Bluewater so far this early Spring. 

 

 

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