Saltwater
Oregon Inlet
Inshore anglers reported bluefish and Spanish mackerel are biting along with speckled trout. Nearshore boats are catching limits of bluefish and Spanish. Offshore, limits of gaffer dolphin are biting with yellowfin tuna and cobia being caught at a slower rate than in past weeks. White marlin, blue marlin and sailfish have also been caught on a catch-and-release basis. Contact: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 252-441-6301, www.oregon-inlet.com.
Buxton/Hatteras
Inshore boats reported bluefish, Spanish and sea mullet along with a few croaker and pompano. Offshore anglers are reporting some large wahoo, dolphin, yellowfin tuna and catch-and-release blue marlin and white marlin. Bottom fishermen have found success with black sea bass, snappers and triggerfish. Contact: Red Drum Tackle 252-995-5414, www.hatteras-island.com; offshore news, Oden’s Dock 252-986-2555, www.odensdock.com; or www.hatterasharbor.com.
Ocracoke/ Portsmouth
Nearshore, bluefish, Spanish and pompano are being caught. Inshore boats are still catching bluefish and speckled trout, along with an occasional cobia bite. Offshore anglers reported limits of dolphin and scattered wahoo. Contact: Tradewinds Bait & Tackle 252-928-5491, www.fishtradewinds.com; Morris Marina 252-225-4261, www.portsmouthislandfishing.com.
Cape Lookout/
Bogue Inlet
Inshore boats are reeling in large amounts of sea mullet, Spanish and bluefish with scattered speckled trout biting. Sea mullet and red drum continue to bite in the sound. Red drum, cobia and sea mullet are being caught by nearshore boats. Offshore anglers reported good catches of yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo. Contact: EJW Outdoors 252-247-4725; Portside Marina 252-726-7678; www.ncoif.com.
Topsail Island
Nearshore and on the piers, bluefish, sea mullet and Spanish are biting. In the sound and in the surf, red drum and trout are biting. Offshore, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are being caught. Contact: East Coast Discount Tackle 910-328-1887, www.eastcoastsports.com.
Wilmington/ Wrightsville Beach
Nearshore, bluefish, flounder, Spanish, speckled trout and sea mullet are being caught. Inshore, anglers are finding bluefish, flounder and speckled trout. Offshore boats reported limits of dolphin, along with yellowfin tuna, cobia and king mackerel biting. Contact: Tex’s Tackle 910-791-1763, www.texstackle.com.
Southport/Sunset Beach
Nearshore anglers are reporting flounder and red drum. Off the beaches, Spanish and bluefish are being caught. Offshore boats reported large amounts of dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel and blackfin tuna. Bottom fishermen have found success with grouper and sea bass. Catch-and-release sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin have also been reported. Contact: Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle 910-457-1221; www.yeahrightcharters.com; or www.oifishingcenter.com.
Freshwater
Falls Lake
Hot weather has driven most fish to deeper waters. Largemouth bass are still biting on deep-diving crank baits and Carolina rigs in the morning and evening. Crappie are biting on minnows around bridge pilings. Catfish are biting on live baits at medium depths. Water level: normal 251.5, Wednesday 251.96, full pool 264.8. Contact: Outhouse Tackle 919-217-0085; www.wmi.org.
Jordan Lake
Largemouth bass are biting near beds on topwater baits and deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie are biting deep near brush piles and docks. Catfish are being caught on cut baits and live baits at medium to deep depths. Water level: normal 216, Wednesday 216.58, full pool 240. Contact: Wilsonville General Store 919-362-7101; Crosswinds Marina 919-362-5391.
Kerr Lake
Anglers reported largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and spinner baits at deep depths. Striped bass are biting on topwater baits in the evening and at dusk. Crappie are biting on minnows and jigs at deep depths near bridge pilings and brush piles. Catfish are biting on live baits and cut baits at medium depths. Water level: normal 300, Wednesday 300.69, full pool 320. Contact: Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle 434-374-8381; www.kerrlake.com.
Lake Wheeler
Anglers reported largemouth bass are biting at medium depths on spinner baits and topwater baits. Catfish are biting on chicken livers and live baits at medium depths. Crappie continue to bite on live minnows at medium depths. Contact: Wilsonville General Store 919-362-7101.
Shearon Harris Lake
Anglers have continued to find success with topwater baits with largemouth bass. Crappie are biting on live minnows and jigs at medium depths. Scattered striped bass are biting at night on topwater baits. Contact: The Tackle Box 919-557-8255; www.wmi.org.
(For water levels go to http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/)
