Since officially moving to Havelock, NC, I have had a chance to see first hand what is happening right now. The water has cleared for the most part, there’s bait in the water and Spanish mackerel are feeding well within casting range of surfcasters along Atlantic Beach. I saw a 5-plus pound Spanish landed, something we typically see mid-September through early November.
I’ve been fishing for false albacore for a long time. Around 7:30 pm, Aug 8, I’m 90 percent sure I saw a pod 100 yards off the beach at Fort Macon. They popped up twice then were gone. I’ve caught some very nice Spanish and hard-fighting jacks on silver and pinks 3/4, 1 and 1.5 oz. The hardest hit was on the 1.5 oz Clown. I never got to see what hit it.
Most importantly, this time of the season when it is muggy is to get out as early as possible and/or late in the afternoon. You might only have a few minutes to catch the feeding.