Specks on the Pamlico Sound

Captains Scooter Lily and Bud Bishop had a field day of trout fishing with Chris Douglas of Carolina ALL OUT. (Photo courtesy of Mott Ridge Charters)

Catch speckled trout on deep cover

Capt. Bud Bishop of Mott Ridge Charters (252-423-1333) has some advice for anglers targeting speckled trout on the Pamlico Sound during the summer: go deep.

More specifically, he said finding structure in those deep holes is the key to consistent action.

Another tip Bishop offers goes against the grain of conventional wisdom. It’s something he’s learned over the years, even though he started off assuming otherwise.

“A lot of folks think trout are always downcurrent of the structure trying to ambush bait, but I find more times, they’re upcurrent and upwind of the structure,” he said.

Get the net

He’s not sure what advantage that gives the fish, but he said there’s no mistaking it.

Swimbaits are highly effective for specks this time of year. (Photo courtesy of Mott Ridge Charters)

“I fish a lot of structure, and more times than not they are upcurrent of the structure,” he said. “I know stripers are almost always downcurrent of the structure, but the trout are not like that.”

Bishop said this time of year, most of the specks are going to be good eating-sized fish. It’s not typical to catch trophy-sized specks right now, but it’s not unheard of. Anglers should definitely have a net handy at all times.

When he and his anglers do catch some exceptionally large ones, he encourages them to release those to protect the spawning stock.

“We usually release them if they’re 22, 23 inches or better,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with keeping some legal-sized fish for the fryer, but we let the bigger ones go.”

Sink your swimbait

Double hookups are common when probing deep holes for specks. (Photo courtesy of Mott Ridge Charters )

He looks for structure in deep holes, and uses swimbaits to target specks. He said it’s not uncommon to also hook into some flounder while fishing this way, but it’s the trout he’s really fond of catching. Anglers also have a good shot at hooking into a few bluefish.

Bishop said the most important detail for anglers to remember is that they need to let the lure sink down enough. Simply casting and immediately retreiving won’t allow the swimbait to get down to the level of the fish.

“So if you’re in the deep holes with structure, and you’re not getting bit, you need to remember to let that lure get down further,” he said.

It’s not a bad idea to let the lure touch the bottom before you begin your retrieve. Sometimes, that’s precisely when a trout will hit.

If they don’t hit immediately, Bishop likes to reel, then give the rod a couple of pops before reeling again. That’s the type of retreive he suggests anglers use all the way back to the boat.

Anglers can catch enough speckled trout for a fish fry when fishing the Pamlico Sound. (Photo courtesy of Mott Ridge Charters)

The Pamlico Sound is full of deep holes with structure, so using electronics to find these holes is always a good idea. Drifting will allow anglers to cover a lot of water quickly, and this will allow them to cast into numerous holes.

Don’t lose focus

It’s not always important to make long casts. Sometimes, the deeper holes are closer to, or directly under, the boat. When that’s the case, anglers should shorten their casts in order to maximize their time in the strike zone.

Bishop points out that speckled trout aren’t traveling solo this time of year. When he catches one, he expects other specks to be right there, and other anglers on the boat often hook up within a few seconds.

During the summer, a hot speckled trout bite can turn off suddenly, leaving anglers in a bit of a lull. But Bishop said it usually doesn’t last long. It’s important for anglers to stay attentive, because when the bite turns back on, they need to be ready.

Pamlico Sound

The Pamlico Sound is a true treasure of the North Carolina coast. It’s the largest lagoon along the East Coast, measuring 80 miles long and 20 miles wide.

Interconnecting with the Albemarle Sound, Currituck Sound, Croatan Sound, Roanoke Sound, Bogue Sound, Back Sound and Core Sound, it’s known collectively as the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound System, making up more than 3000 square miles of open water. It is the second-largest estuary in the United States.

Home to numerous species of fish, the Pamlico Sound is an angling playground for vacationers and locals alike.

The sound is named for the Pamlico tribe of Native Americans who lived in the area until their population was decimated by a combination of smallpox and the Tuscarora War in the early 1700s.