Well, we’ve made it into summer and most all species of fish are in the area now, and available to be caught.
July is the time to catch Spanish mackerel. The Beaufort Inlet, along the beaches, Cape Lookout, AR 315 and behind Shackleford Banks will all be good places to scout out for Spanish. Trolling Clarkspoons with trolling weights and #1 planers will be the most productive way to catch them. You can also look around the inlet early in the morning or during the late afternoon for schooling Spanish. When you locate them, cast to them with a Sea Striker Jig Fish lure or a Glass Minnow on light tackle. Light tackle fishing for Spanish is always some fun fishing.
You also will be catching bluefish in the same areas as the Spanish and will catch them on the same lures.
Sheepshead fishing is at its best now, with lots of fish being caught and some over 10-pounds are coming to the scales. When it gets hot like it is now the fish move in and feed in big numbers. The Atlantic Beach Bridge, Beaufort Bridge, Harkers Island Bridge. Port Wall, and docks along the ICW will all be good places to fish. Live sea urchins and live fiddler crabs will be the best baits for them, and we have both in stock here at the shop ready for action.
Flounder fishing is pretty good in the inshore waters and out around the Artificial Reefs 315, 320, 330 and 285. Fishing two-ounce Spro bucktails and Billy Bay two-ounce bucktails tipped with four-inch Berkley Gulp or Uncle Josh Meat Strips will work the best. On the inside waters around the inlet, bridges, port wall, docks, and marsh creeks all would be good areas to check out for the flatties. Live mud minnows and Berkley Gulp four-inch baits will be the best for action.
Speckled trout fishing has been decent, considering how warm it has become. Fishing the following areas – Core Creek, Neuse River and Haystacks – will produce some action. Anglers are having good luck casting topwater baits like MirrOlure Top Dogs and Rapala Skitter Walks. Most of the action is first thing in the mornings, before the sun is getting too high. Anglers are also using live shrimp and live mud minnows, producing some luck in the same areas. If this keeps up, in a few months as we get into fall we should see another great bite like we saw last year.
The redfish bite has improved since live shrimp and mullet are now in the marsh areas and creeks for them to feed on. Most being caught are running in the 16- to 19-inch range, but there are a good number of 23-inch fish around, with a few upper slots and over mixed in. Topwaters, Redfish Magics, Gulp Baits, Z-Mans, Slayer Paddle Tails, popping corks, live mud minnows, live shrimp, cut mullet and finger mullet will all be good choices.
Not many people target sharks but July is a good month to fish for them. Anywhere out around the inlet area, such as on the shoals in front of Carrot Island is always a good place to get hooked up with a big shark in the summer. Also, right outside the inlet at night is a good spot to try. Big mullet or menhaden fished on a shark rig is the way to go for some action.
A reminder…we have both a Spanish Challenge and a Flounder Challenge going on right now for a $25 Entry Fee. If you would like to get your name in the pot, come by the shop and sign up for some summer fun.
Capt. Matt Lamb/Chasin Tails www.chasintailsoutdoors.com
Pictured are Brandon Baltzegar (13 yrs old) a 13 lb Dolphin and for his brother Jameson (15 yrs old) a 10 lb Amberjack.
