Central District Fishing Report —
Pamlico, Craven, Carteret and Onslow Counties
Contact: Jesse Bissette (Jesse.Bissette@ncdenr.gov)
For the week of June 10-16
Ocean: Dolphin were still the main catch for boats fishing offshore bringing back double-digit numbers of fish. A few wahoo and tuna were mixed in with the dolphin. A good amount of billfish were caught, as well. Offshore bottom fishermen reported great catches of amberjack, grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass and vermilion snapper. King mackerel and large Spanish mackerel were caught by anglers slow trolling both live and dead bait over the artificial reefs. Those trolling the beaches were able to bring home some bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Keeper flounder were caught by anglers using bucktails and live bait around the nearshore ledges and reefs.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Decent numbers of black drum and sheepshead were caught by anglers fishing around area structures. Fiddler crabs and sea urchins were the keys to success. Fishermen targeting red drum and spotted seatrout back in the marshes had good luck using topwater lures early in the morning. Live bait caught more fish during the day. Anglers bottom fishing near the N.C. State Port wall and in the N.C. State Port turning basin brought catches of Atlantic croaker and pigfish back to the dock, along with some weakfish.
Piers/Surf: Anglers fishing area piers and in the surf saw solid catches of red drum action, with most of the fish being slot-sized keepers. Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught by those throwing plugs early in the morning or late in the evening. Bottom fishermen reported a mixed bag of sea mullet, pompano, a few spot and some pigfish.
For the fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional Highly Migratory Species harvest reporting requirements are also in place. To obtain a permit go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/compliance/permits_reporting/index.html
Report a tagged fish
Please note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and Spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make sure you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational fishing license went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters.
Click here for the latest seasons, size and bag limits.
Please note: New reports are usually posted by early Monday afternoon.
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