SALTWATER

Cape Lookout/Bogue Inlet

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

Looks like only a matter of time before the annual mullet blow hits and the fish head south down the beach. Spanish mackerel in the 3- to 6-pound range are hanging around the artificial reefs and inlets, along the beaches and over rock piles. Flounder fishing is still slow, with a few being caught beneath the Spanish. A few flounder have been caught in the Coast Guard channel and Bogue Inlet channel near marker No. 8. Bottom fishing from the piers has been painfully slow. Nice sharks have been congregating around the Sheraton Pier. Sea mullets and spots have been caught west of Fort Macon. Offshore boaters have been held to the docks by the tropical storm.

Oregon Inlet

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

Lots of good dolphin catches have been reported. One boat had eight sailfish releases on one trip. White marlin have been in the mix. A few yellowfin tunas have been landed. Inshore boaters are catching Spanish, bluefish, triggerfish, king mackerel, false albacore and cobia. Surf anglers are catching sea mullets and blues.

Buxton/Hatteras

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

Lots of Spanish and blues have been caught at The Point. False albacore have been mixed in. Sea mullet, spots and flounder have been caught north and south. Puppy drum and flounder have been caught around the jetties. Inshore boaters are catching drum, blues, trout and flounder. Offshore boats are catching lot of dolphin with some wahoo.

Ocracoke/Portsmouth

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

At Ocracoke, surf anglers are catching blues, sea mullets, Spanish (on metal), black drum, flounder and some puppy drum. Pompano and speckled trout topping 3 pounds have been landed as well. At Portsmouth, surf anglers are catching blues, puppy drum, flounder, croaker and trout.

Topsail Island

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

The piers have had sea mullets, red and black drum, scattered Spanish, real nice sheepshead, kings, and nice croakers. Surf has the same with blues mixed in. The waterway has great flounder action this week, nice red drum and blues and croakers. Offshore has kings, Spanish, cobia, amberjacks, gag grouper and dolphin starting about 12 to 18 miles out Gulf Stream is quiet, but some sailfish have been reported.

Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach

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

Grouper are biting about 35-40 miles out. Flounder and drum are still in the creeks and waterway. Blues are scattered from the surf on out. Gulf Stream reports are scarce. Wind and seas are keeping boats at the dock.

Southport/Sunset Beach

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

Lots of storms this week. The Spanish are still biting close to shore in the cleaner water. Offshore bottom fishing remains good for those who can get out in 80 to 100 feet of water. The dolphin are still being caught along with some sailfish. The piers and surf were producing flounder, pompano, blues and sea mullets before the wind started blowing.

FRESHWATER

Falls Lake

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

Water level: normal 251.5, Wednesday 249.7, full pool 264.8. Lots of schooling activity in the Ledgerock area. Small bass are chasing baitfish and can be caught using small topwater baits.

Lake Gaston

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

Water level: normal 199.5, Wednesday 199.6; full pool, 202.0. Call for current information.

Kerr Lake

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

Water level: normal 300, Wednesday 293.9, full pool 320. Bass anglers are catching bass on main lake areas in 20 to 25 feet of water. Big plastic worms on Carolina rigs and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are working well. There has been some surface schooling activity. Stripers are biting live shad around the Ivy Hill area. Live shad are working on suspended fish.

Jordan Lake

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

Water level: normal 216, Wednesday 213.8, full pool 240. Water is rising and stained. Bass fishing has been good with best success using Carolina-rigged plastics and topwater baits. Striper activity has picked picked up with reports of good catches around the old main lake railroad trestle.

Lake Wheeler

park office (919) 662-5704

No reports this week.

Shearon Harris Lake

www.wmi.org

Water was clear and stable, but all bets are off with this rain. Best bet for largemouth bass has been using wacky-rigged plastic around shoreline vegetation. There is still some schooling bass activity in certain areas of the lake, and small topwater lures are working on the schooling fish.

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