With the cold front and rain that moved west to east across North Carolina October 14, spotted seatrout fishing soon should fire off in a spectacular way at the lower Neuse River, said one veteran mid-coast saltwater expert.
“Fishing has been good in the river and (Pamlico) Sound,” said Ray Massengill, a guide for George Beckwith (Down East Guide Service, 252-671-3474, info@pamlicoguide.com, www.pamlicoguide.com).
Although most recent catches are red drum and flounder, Massengill said the expected water temperature drop from 68 to 65 degrees should invigorate what already is a decent speckled trout bite.
“The magic number for specks (in the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound) is 65 degrees,” he said. “Mullet and baitfish are moving, and the specks should get active in the creeks, such as Dawson and South River, and all the creeks around Oriental. We’ve been catching a few scattered specks, some up to 4 1/2 pounds, but the water temperature drop should really turn ’em on and bring ’em into the creeks.”
Puppy drum from 30- to 34-inches long (12 to 15 pounds) have been biting strips of mullet on jigheads. Massengill said guide trips have averaged between 25 and 40 fish per day.
Anglers may only keep one red drum in an 18- to 27-inch slot, so most fish are released.
“The ‘old’ (large) drum have left the Sound, but there are plenty of puppies hitting on windward points — Point of Marsh, Turnagain Bay and Raccoon Island,” Massengill said. “We’ve also been getting a few flounder, up to 2 pounds, to hit strip baits.”
Artificial lures such as MR17 MirrOlures also are catching drum and specks, but using soft plastics such as Gulp Shrimp is pretty futile unless anglers don’t mind losing them to pinfish.
“There’s a million pinfish in the water now, but when the temperature drops, they’ll leave and you can use soft plastics without having the pinfish destroy them,” Massengill said.
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