Atlantic Beach Fishing Reports from Chaisin' Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle Shop

CURRENT REPORTS

Fishing Report
Thu, May 17, 2012 9:05 am

1st Annual Cobia Challenge:

Current Leader Board

1st Place - Anthony Nelson 69lb

2nd Place - Greg Marquast 52 1/4lb

3rd Place - Shane Nelson 39 1/2lb / Current Wild Card Leader

4th Place - Chris Edwards 35lb

5th Place - Mike Leserra 32lb

As of now 1st Place will take home over $1000.00 in CASH and a $400.00 Cobia Outfit. Still lots of time to fish so come by today and sign up.

1st Annual Flounder Challenge:

Current Learder Board

1st Place - Mike Tutor 3.98lb

Come by the shop and sign up today you have all summer to FISH.

COBIA REPORT:

Well, there wasn't all that many caught this past weekend. I think we only wrote 3 citations that weighed in over 40lbs, along with a few more that I know that was caught. I've heard of a few that has been caught over the last few days. The cobia are here you just have to fish somewhat harder for them than usual; putting out chum, checking your bait to make sure it is in good shape and fresh. Even though the bait balls aren't here, there has been quite a few caught sight fishing with Bucktails using 8” Berkley Gulp or Gotcha-Grubs as trailers.

The artificial Eels have been working along with the special Florida Rig that I tied up last weekend. I'll have more back in-stock today, so I will have them rigged and ready for this weekend. The bait was very hard to come by last week and over the weekend but my bait man put his time in this week stocking us up. So, we have the BIG BAGS OF FRESH MENHADEN back In-Stock and we have the hand tied Cobia Rigs all stocked up for you.

I talked to one of our Cobia captains yesterday and he feels like the cobia just haven't got here in big numbers yet. I'm still getting reports of large numbers of fish down the coast from us. But trust me there are fish here to catch I know of some guys that are catching cobia just about every time they go out.

INSHORE:

Spanish fishing is getting better and better each week. They aren't everywhere yet but I talked to a few customers that caught some nice fish in the inlet last Friday. They were trolling Clarkspoons and Squid Rigs on planers using trolling weights.

Flounder are still biting at the reefs like AR 315 and 320 on Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4” Berkley Gulp Shrimp. Last weekend we saw our 1st citation fish of the year. So that’s a sign of some bigger fish moving inshore.

The Gray Trout are still here in good numbers, now looks we are going to see them all year. We are seeing better numbers of Grays that we haven't seen in the past few years. It’s getting back like it use to be where you could go out and catch a 4 pounder just about every trip. I would think we will see a raise in the limit in the near future. The 17 Buoy in the inlet still is holding good numbers also back through the Turning Basin and around the traintracks. The best baits have been Spec-Rigs tipped with bait shrimp along with Jig Fish Lures and Stingsilvers jigged off the bottom.

Sheepshead are here they have been just hard to catch. With all the fronts coming through they don’t seem to want to feed. Some might think they aren't here but I've seen some very good catches of them so far. We have Live Fiddler Crabs and LiveSea Urchins in stock just for you sheepshead anglers.

The Sea Mullet fishing has slowed down, they aren't as thick as they were around a month ago. I'm still hearing of guys picking up good catches in the Shipping Channel just outside the inlet. Spec-Rigs tipped with bait shrimp is still going to be the best way to catch them. You have to make sure you keep near the bottom it makes a world of difference in catching the mullets.

The Redfishing has been slow around the area. I just haven't quite figured it out yet why they aren't here in good numbers by now. I just talked to a friend the other day that guides out of Swansboro and he told me that he is seeing more Redfish than he has seen in the last few years. It doesn't make much since if they are that thick down around Bouge Inlet why aren't they thick in our marsh. If you are scouting out the reds use Topwaters, Spinnerbaits and Berkley Gulp.

The Bluefish have been acting somewhat crazy over the last few weeks. They are here thick one day then the next you wont even catch one. Most have been found in the inlet and just off the beach. The best numbers I heard of last weekend was the guys throwing Gotcha-Plugs off the Oceanna Pier. They were catching all the 3 pounders you would want to catch just the other day.

As for the Hatteras Blues we haven't weighed any in over the last week. The big numbers have seemed to moved on but we will see a few around through the 1st of June.

PIERS/SURF:

The Oceanna Pier has been doing very well for not being opened all the way to the end. They are seeing good numbers of Blue Fish and some very nice sized Hog Fish. Also, there have been a few Spanish already caught off the pier. Most are having the best luck casting Gotcha-Plugs and bottom fishing with bait shrimp.

Fort Macon Park is still producing good numbers of fish: Black Drum, Red Drum, Sheepshead, Blue Fish, Hog Fish and Pompano. Surf anglers are using Blue Fish Rigs baited up with Finger Mullet, Bait Shrimp and Squid fished on the bottom using bottom rigs. I've seen some anglers hooking up with some nice sheepshead that are hanging right on the rocks. We have Live Fiddler Crabs and Sea Urchins n stock which makes perfect bait for jetty fishing.

From up and down the beach we are seeing some of the biggest Hogfish you are going to see in this area catching them on Bottom Rigs tipped with Bait Shrimp. Along with some Pompano hanging right in the surf zone being caught on Pompano Rigs tipped with bait shrimp.

Since the water has warmed up, I'm hearing now of guys casting Jig Fish Lures picking up small Blue Fish. I'm still hearing of a few Hatteras Bluefish along the beach just not in the numbers that they were. A deluxe Blue Fish Rig with a Finger Mullet will do the job.

OFFSHORE:

We are seeing some outstanding Dolphin Fishing so far this year . It's good to see a "HOT BITE" because last year was off but this year THE BITE IS ON FOR SURE! I talked to several customers that were catching 40 to 60 gaffers last weekend a trip. That’s some good fishing anywhere you are at. The best action has been at the Rise and at the Big Rock area. Blue Water Candy Sea Witch Rigs in Pink/White, Blue/White and Daisy Squid Chain Rigs have been working very well along with the Jag-A –Rita. Most have been trolling Small or Medium Ballyhoo and having great luck.

Over the last week some of the charter boats have been seeing some good numbers of Blue Marlin in and arourd the Big Rock.

The Grouper and Trigger Fish bite still remains good out in the 35 to 40mile range on the ledges. Most are having the best luck on squid and the fresh caught menhaden that we have in stock. Just keep in mind we are about two weeks away and the Black Sea Bass season will open. The fishing should be good, as we have seen lots of bass that have been nice sized fish. Just about any area you go to you are going to find Sea Bass. They are even good number of keepers around 315 right now.

Alyssa Wernett, with a nice Black Drum that she caught while fishing with her dad Conrad at Fort Macon.