Photo by Craig Holt Guide George Beckwith said fishing for red drum is good at the lower Neuse River now.

Red drum fishing is hot at the lower Neuse River currently and that includes all sizes of fish, said a veteran area guide.

“Puppy drum, yearling reds and over-slot reds are really providing a good bite down the (Neuse) river,” said Morehead City’s Captain George Beckwith (Pamlico Guide Service).

Offshore from Morehead City, where Beckwith’s guides also work, bottom fishing at the nearshore wrecks for groupers, beeliners (vermilion snapper) and American reds also has been active (although American reds can’t be kept because of a National Marine Fisheries Service moratorium).

“The water is just beginning to clear up along the beaches (after heavy rains two weeks ago) and false albacore fishing also has been good,” said Beckwith (252-671-3474, www.pamlicoguide.com).

With water clearing in the upper Neuse, striped bass fishing has begun to pick up as well, he said.

“We’ve been having some really good topwater bites for stripers,” Beckwith said. “Zara Spooks are one of my favorite lures to use, but some people are trolling spoon-bill Rebels at the bridge pilings (near New Bern).”