Reds, flounder are loose at the Neuse

The first “mullet blow” of the fall has baitfish moving along the Neuse River shorelines, said Oriental’s Gary Dubiel (Spec Fever Guide Service, 252-249-1520).

“The puppy drum bite has been excellent with plenty of slot (18 to 27 inches) and above- slot fish,” he said.

The above-slot reds are sometimes reaching 30 inches in length and weigh 12 to 14 pounds.

“They’re hitting soft plastics mostly and live bait,” Dubiel said. “I’ve been using Gulp shrimp with my clientele, on a 1/4- to 1/8-ounce jighead. I’ve also caught a few fish lately on a DOA TerrorEyz lure.”

The TerrorEyz resembles a small, crudely-made minnow with a large red eye. It’s hopped off the bottom.

“It looks like a little spot,” Dubiel said. “It’s an old bait but has a little MirrOlure wobble to it. It’s a sub-surface lure though.”

Jerkbaits have been taking some red drum as well, he said.

“Speck fishing is just OK (in the Neuse, not the feeder creeks) with the potential to get a lot better in the creeks with the cooler weather,” Dubiel said. “There’s so many baitfish here it’s ridiculous. There’s a lot of mullet moving along the shoreline, and that’s always a good sign; the green shrimp are about gone, though.”

Most of Dubiel’s fishing this summer has been on the main body of the Neuse River.

“There’s also a good flounder bite recently between Oriental and New Bern,” he said. “People have been landing a lot of keeper (14-inch and larger) fish.”

Dubiel noted the Division of Marine Fisheries’ just-increased 14-inch size limit for speckled trout was welcome but probably wouldn’t make a lot of difference in the Neuse system this winter because nothing has been done to curtail haul-seine commercial netting.

“It might help in areas where you’ve got a lot of little fish, like up at Oregon Inlet or down at Wrightsville (Beach), but (nets) still are gonna get a majority of the big trout in the creeks this winter,” he said. “Plus, the (DMF) is restricting netters up in Core Sound because of the sea turtles, and I think more of those guys now will come down here.”