Sheepshead, flounder and red drum are providing most of the current action for Atlantic Beach/Morehead City inshore anglers.
“They’ve been catching some good sheepshead around the (Turning Basin) Port Wall and all the bridges,” said guide Matt Lamb of Chasin’ Tails Charters (252-240-3474, www.chasintailsoutdoors.com).
Best baits for sheepshead that are running from 2 to 8 pounds include sea urchins, fiddler crabs, clams and sand fleas.
“Inshore flounder fishing also has been pretty good around the Port Wall and the high rise (U.S. 70) bridge going to Beaufort and the Atlantic Beach Causeway,” Lamb said, “along with all the docks up and down the IntraCoastal Waterway.”
Anglers are finding the largest flatfish during slack tide periods at the Port Wall.
“Some people have brought in 10-pounders they’ve caught at the wall,” Lamb said.
Best baits are live mud minnows and live shrimp on Carolina rigs, along with live finger mullets.
“Tides don’t seem to matter,” Lamb said. “The flounder are at all these places.”
Red drum schools remain in the Haystack marshes behind Beaufort and the bays off Core Creek.
“Topwater lures, Gulp! lures, live mud minnows and mullet along with Redfish Magic lures seem to be working well,” Lamb said.
Sizes of these redfish range from 15 to 32 inches in length.
