Rick of The Reel Outdoors reports that spanish mackerel have moved into the area now that water temperatures are rising. Most of these fish have been 2-3 lbs. and casting glass minnow jigs from the shore to feeding schools has been productive. Smaller bluefish are mixed in with the spanish and Gotcha plugs get great […]

Due to significant shoaling between Barden Inlet Buoy 8 and Barden Inlet Light 35 the U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to permanently discontinue 21 aids to navigation (almost all of the remaining markers in the area). Captains licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard would be operating in “non-navigable channels” and would be subject to loss […]

Kevin of Island Tackle and Hardware reports that plenty of spanish mackerel and bonito are in the 2-5 mile range. Trolling Clarkspoons as well as sight casting spoons and jigs has worked for both species. There have been a few flounder caught inside but most of the fish that anglers are finding have been smaller […]

Betty of TW’s Bait and Tackle reports that anglers at the Point are catching citation-sized drum on large cut baits after dark. A few “chopper” bluefish (to 35”) have hit the same cut baits. In addition the first reported cobia from the surf just came from the Cape Point. Large speckled trout (to 9 lbs.) […]

Mike of Native Son Guide Service reports that the nearshore bite has been excellent with both Atlantic bonito and spanish mackerel schooled up in the 2-5 mile range. Trolling Clarkspoons behind a planer will catch a good number of fish but anglers most enjoy targeting these fish as they feed on surface baits. Casting glass […]

A good friend is getting ready to move to the ocean-challenged state of Wisconsin so I thought what better way to send him off than with an offshore trip out of Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Rick Croson of Living Waters Guide Service. Eric Anderson is my friend that’s moving. His youngest and my oldest play […]

Jam of Hatteras Jack reports that bluefish have been biting very well on the Rodanthe area beaches with Rodanthe Pier reporting fish on just about every cast. The first cobia of the season was caught at the Point on a large Carolina-rigged cut bait. A few citation-sized drum are being caught at the Point too […]

North Carolina surf fishing tournaments are full of strong competition mostly from the veteran anglers who know the Carolina coasts’ sandbars and sloughs like the back of their sunburnt hands. It’s not uncommon to see the same names top the leaderboards year after year at any big surf fishing event but at the 2019 Fisherman’s […]

The sportfishing industry expressed its support for a new bill in Congress to ensure the smaller fish in the ocean that serve as the food source for most marine sportfish known as forage fish will be sustainably managed. Introduced by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) Brian Mast (R-Fla.) Matt wright (D-Pa.) Fred Upton (R-Mich.) Billy Long […]

Betty of TW’s Bait and Tackle reports that medium-sized sea mullet (up to 14”) have been feeding on shrimp around ramps 43 and 48. Over-slot red drum have been caught in good numbers at the Point with upwards of 30 citations in one day. The bite has been either in the early mornings or in […]

Jerry of The Reel Outdoors reports that drum are swimming in the backwaters where they can be caught on cut bait and both Zoom and Gulp soft plastics. Black drum and sea mullet are being caught from the surf and piers with sand fleas sand flea Fishbites and shrimp getting most of the bites. Bluefish […]

Red of Island Tackle and Hardware reports that a few flounder are starting to pop up around docks and muddy bottoms. Mud minnows have been the bait of choice. Redfish have been hanging out around docks as well though they prefer fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig or artificial baits. Black drum have been […]

Jam of Hatteras Jack reports that anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are catching great numbers of blow toads. Large sea mullet (up to 18”) are mixed in in the deeper holes. Medium-sized bluefish (2-6 lbs.) are biting Carolina-rigged cut mullet. The old drum bite at the Point has been awesome with the action at night […]

John of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle reports that the backwaters have been holding red drum black drum trout and flounder. Several of the flatfish have measured between 20-21”. Live or fresh bait is always best but Vudu and DOA shrimp have also been popular lately. Rapala X-Raps and MirrOlure MR17s and 18s will work […]

Jeff of Ocean Isle Fishing Center reports that redfish between 13-30” have been biting in the inshore waters but the trout bite has slowed down since the water temperatures hit 70+ degrees. Flounder are starting to chew. They are mostly small but there is the occasional 17” fish in the mix. The whiting bite is […]

Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports that speckled trout have been biting well in the lower Neuse River creeks. Anglers are catching most of the trout on popping cork setups while fishing ledges and grass banks near creek mouths. Striped bass are hanging around structure in the New Bern area but recent weather has kept […]

Mike of Native Son reports that water temps are hovering around 60 degrees and trout are starting to move out of their holes which means that it’s time to start topwater fishing. Don’t be afraid of moving around to find the specks but once you start getting bites hunker down and work the same spot. […]

Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports that anglers are catching good numbers of speckled trout from the creeks in the lower Neuse around Oriental. The warmer water temperatures have the fish active and soft plastics rigged with popping corks and topwater plugs are getting most of the bites. The trout have been staging anywhere from […]