COVER
Summer bass fishing is tops in North Carolina on a number of lakes, Shearon Harris and Randleman among them. Read the July issue of North Carolina Sportsman for particulars. Also, learn how to catch Cape Fear speckled trout, Morehead City sheepshead, panfish in rivers in the state's northeastern corner, plus dolphin and king mackerel out of Wrightsville Beach and a smorgasborg of species at Ocracoke Island.

FEATURES
Hot Summer Combo
Wrightsville Beach is jumping-off point for great nearshore action on king mackerel, dolphin.
By Mike Marsh

Lake of the Month: Randleman Dam Lake
North Carolina’s newest lake is still hot in sizzling weather.
By Craig Holt

No ‘Fear:’ Trout still here
The Lower Cape Fear is the perfect ‘summer home’ for plenty of specks. Here’s how to catch them.
By Jeff Burleson

Wet-Dry Bluegill Vacuum
Rivers in Northeastern North Carolina produce great bream fishing for anglers who fish two styles of flies.
By Mike Marsh

Surface Sizzlers
Most fishermen approach July as a month when bass are deep, but a Shearon Harris expert knows how to reach out and touch them on top.
By Craig Holt

Herding Sheep
Underutilized and underrated, convict fish can make for some sweet seafood dinners. Here’s how to corral them off Cape Lookout.
By Jerry Dilsaver

Ocracoke Grab Bag
Ocracoke Island is out of the way, but it’s one of North Carolina’s best coastal fisheries, offering a summer smorgasborg for anglers.
By Bruce Litton

NEWS BREAKERS
MFC bans gill nets in 3 coast areas …

COLUMNS
Backlashes By Craig Holt
Line Scores from the Livewell By Tony Garitta
Fish Like a Pro By Dustin Wilks
Cooking on the Wild Side By Capt. Jerry Dilsaver & Ty Conti
Greener Pastures By Jeff Burlson
High Tides By Jerry Dilsaver
Head for the Mountains By Robert Satterwhite