‘Old’ drum main game in town at lower Neuse

Anglers are targeting ‘old’ (big) drum at the lower Neuse and Pamlico Sound.

“It’s the only game in town right now,” said Oriental guide Mark Hoff.

Currently drum are scattered, but anglers are picking up fish that range from 35 to 50 pounds.

“You need to be persistent because they’re scattered right now, but we’ve been finding them on the breaks in 15 to 19 feet of water,” said Hoff (Sweetwater Charters, 252-717-4521, www.sweetwatercharters.com). “The best bite is early in the morning and late in the evening.”

His technique is to keep moving and fishing until he encounters fish.

“They can be all the way from the sound to New Bern,” Hoff said. “I fish from shoal to shoal and point to point.”

Best baits are chunks of fresh mullet or menhaden on Owen Lupton drum rigs. That means bottom rigs with leaders of 6-inches or less and circle hooks with the barbs bent down.

“I like 20-pound test main line with 60- to 80-pound leaders,” Hoff said.

Night anglers are picking up a few, which bodes well for September.

“I think once this water cools down, which it’s already doing, the bite is really going to pick up,” Hoff said. “I think we’ll have an excellent September for old drum.”