Trout, drum top week's catches inside at Crystal Coast

Cape Lookout/Bogue Inlet

EJW Sports (252) 247-4725; www.ncwaterman.com

Despite disturbance from Tropical Storm Cristobal, anglers have done well on speckled trout and red drum in the Haystacks, New River and Core Creek. Various lures are working for drum, but live shrimp is needed for trout. Ladyfish are starting to show in the New River Inlet area and in the waterway around lighted docks. Check the shady side of all bridges for various species. Flounder are scattered, but some are being caught along the port walls, behind Shackleford Banks and in the Coast Guard channel. The piers are slow, with spots, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and flounder. Offshore, amberjacks on reefs, mahi at Big 10 and sailfish at the Big Rock are strong.

Oregon Inlet

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (252) 441-6301, www.oregon-inlet.com

Lots of bailer dolphin, and one 67-pounder was caught this week. Sailfish, white marlin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna have been caught. Inshore boats are catching cobia, king mackerel, Spanish, croakers and blues. Surf anglers are catching croakers, spots and small flounders.

Buxton/Hatteras

Red Drum Tackle (252) 995-5414, www.reddrumtackle.com; Oden's Dock (252) 986-2555, www.odensdock.com; or www.hatterasharbor.com

Ramp 44 has reopened, and The Point is visible from the beach. Flounder, pompano and blues have been caught around Ramp 55. Puppy drum are in the inlet. The sound still is producing good catches of trout, puppy drum and flounder. Offshore, fishing has been good for amberjack and dolphin with scattered kings and wahoo. Inshore boaters are doing well on drum, bluefish and flounder.

Ocracoke/Portsmouth

Tradewinds Bait & Tackle (252) 928-5491, www.fishtradewinds.com; Morris Marina (252) 225-4261, www.portsmouthislandfishing.com

Ocracoke has had puppy drum, croaker, whiting, bluefish, and flounder in the surf. Inshore boaters have reported Spanish, flounder, speckled trout, puppy drum and bluefish.

Topsail Island

East Coast Discount Tackle (910) 328-1887, www.eastcoastsports.com

Fairly slow after the storm. Ladyfish are still biting around bridges and lighted docks. Surf and piers have been slow. Specks have also been active in the sound. No boats went offshore this week.

Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach

Tex's Tackle (910) 791-1763, www.texstackle.com; Bug-Em Bait Co. (910) 452-9955

The storm dirtied the water. Drum have been biting well at night or early; try using top-water or live bait. Flounder are biting around the inlets. Tarpon have been landed on the beach and from the piers. Spanish mackerel are gone for now. King mackerel were biting starting at 10 miles before the blow. Sails and dolphin are biting in the 20- to 30-mile range. The Gulf Stream has a hot marlin bite.

Southport/Sunset Beach

Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle (910) 457-1221 www.yeahrightcharters.com; or www.oifishingcenter.com

More dirty water from the storm. Spanish are around, but you have to look hard to find them. Smaller spoons on small planers are working. The Southport waterfront is producing good flounder action. The inshore reefs have had good spadefish action. Drum and trout are still biting in the creeks. Bluewater action has been mostly dolphin and sailfish.

FRESHWATER

Falls Lake

Carolina Outdoor Sportsman (919) 676-6799; Bayleaf USA (919) 847-4639; www.wmi.org

Water level: normal 251.5, Wednesday 251.4, full pool 264.8. Call for current information.

Lake Gaston

Holly Grove Marina (434) 636-3455; www.fishlakegaston.com

Water level: normal 199.5, Wednesday 199.6; full pool, 202.0. There has been a good amount of largemouth schooling activity in the lower end of the lake. Cranking mainlake points in 15 to 20 feet of water has produced bass as well.

Kerr Lake

Buggs Island Bait & Tackle (434) 374-8934; www.kerrlake.com

Water level: normal 300, Wednesday 297.8, full pool 320. Striped bass are biting well behind the dam at Kerr. Topwater chuggers and flukes are working. Crappie are being caught on rocky points and deep brush piles in 15 to 20 feet of water. Small jigs (1/32 ounce) are working well.

Jordan Lake

Wilsonville General Store (919) 362-7101, www.carolinaoutdoors.net

Water level: normal 216, Wednesday 216.0, full pool 240. Bass fishing is good using heavy jigs and Carolina-rigged plastics in deep water. Main lake points and ledge drops are key. There is some top-water action early and late.

Lake Wheeler

park office (919) 662-5704

Largemouth bass up to 8 pounds have been caught this week. Crankbaits have been productive. No crappie or catfish reports.

Shearon Harris Lake

www.wmi.org

Water is stable and clear. Bass are in classic summer patterns. Deeper grass lines and points are producing fish on wacky-rigged plastics and Carolina-rigged plastics. Some schooling activity has been noted around main lake points.