Inshore anglers are having a good time catching Spanish mackerel, flounder and sheepshead at the Crystal Coast.
“Spanish action has been good this week at Beaufort Inlet early in the morning and late in the afternoons,” said Capt. Matt Lamb of Chasin’ Tails Charters. “They’ve been schooling, so that gives anglers a chance to catch them by casting with light rods. Jig Fish Lures, Kastmasters, Hopkins, Crippled Herrings, Gotchas and Pole Kat lures all are working well.”
Larger Spanish are showing up at the reefs where anglers have been catching them with live baits.
“Lots are Spanish are being caught by trollers using Clark spoons, mackerel trees and squid rigs behind the bird rigs or on trolling weights,” said Lamb (252-240-3474, www.chasintailsoutdoors.com).
Flounder are providing action in the IntraCoastal Waterway, the Port Wall, bridges, docks and behind Shackleford Banks.
“Guys who are drift fishing are catching good numbers,” Lamb said. “They’re catching lots of small (less than 15 inches) flounder and you might have to catch several before you get a keeper, but one guy recently had 17 keepers.”
Inshore flatties are hitting live mud minnows or Berkley Gulp flounder belly lures and live shrimp. Spro bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp 4-inch shrimp, pogies or Uncle Josh flounder strips are landing flounders at the nearshore reefs.
“A few red drum are at the Haystacks, Core Creek, Carrot Island, Middle Marsh and Shark Island,” Lamb said.
Berkley Gulp, Top Waters, Redfish Magics, Marsh Works spinnerbaits and gold spoons are popular lures for reds while anglers using live mud minnows or cut mullet fished around grass edges and oyster bars also are catching drum.
“Sheepshead fishing has been great at the Atlantic Beach bridge, Beaufort high-rise bridge, the Port Wall, ICW docks and the Beaufort draw bridge,” Lamb said. “Most are being caught on live fiddler crabs or live sea urchins.”
Sheepshead have been averaging from 2 to 9 pounds.
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