Northern Beaches October 10, 2013
Pat Tomlinson with a citation 10.2 lb. sheepshead he hooked off the jetty at Oregon Inlet.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to hook decent numbers of citation-class red drum while casting large cut baits from the area piers.
Surf casters are hooking panfish like pompano, spot, and sea mullet on shrimp and bloodworms pinned to bottom rigs. A few puppy and larger red drum are also taking an interest in cut baits that anglers are casting into the surf.
Inshore, anglers are finding action with black drum and puppy drum, speckled trout, striped bass, and flounder around the little bridge on the causeway. Shrimp, cut baits, and soft plastic lures are fooling the fish around the bridge.
Boaters fishing the sound are connecting with much of the same as the bridge anglers, along with some bluefish.
Offshore, boats are still finding some action with billfish like white and blue marlin, and the meatfish bite has been excellent, with some boats returning to the docks with limit catches of yellowfin tuna and dolphin. A few wahoo have also been mixed in. All the blue water predators are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Brian Baysinger, of Colorado, with a sheepshead and a triggerfish that she hooked on a shallow wreck off Oregon Inlet while fishing with her uncle, Capt. Tom Gilliam, on the Quik Draw. The sheepshead fell for a sand flea and the trigger a piece of squid.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that despite the government shutdown closing the marina, theboats are still fishing and docking up in Manteo and Wanchese. Fishing has been good lately, with big numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna, dolphin, and some wahoo hitting the docks. Billfish (like sailfish and white and blue marlin) are also still around and falling for the same skirted and naked ballyhoo that boats are trolling for the meatfish.
Nearshore boats are connecting with big numbers of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures just off the beaches.
Bottom fishing between the beach and the blue water is producing plenty of action with amberjacks, black sea bass, and tilefish.
Inshore boats are finding action with some sheepshead (to 12.5 lbs.) around the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action in the blue water off Oregon Inlet, landing big numbers (sometimes limits) of dolphin and yellowfin tuna. Some wahoo are around as well, and boats are also still hooking some white marlin and other billfish. Skirted and naked ballyhoo, along with other trolling lures, are fooling the offshore gamefish.
Alice and Matt Buck and friends with limit catches of dolphin and yellowfin tuna along with a wahoo they hooked while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Lee Collins and mate Bo Davenport on the charterboat “Strike ‘Em” out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite has been excellent off Oregon Inlet recently, and anglers have even landed some fish while casting topwater poppers on spinning rods from the bow of the boat. More yellowfin along with some blackfin tuna and wahoo are falling for the traditional ballyhoo trolling spreads.
White marlin are still in the area and taking an interest in the same baits.
Anglers bottomfishing offshore are hauling up some big catches of tilefish.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching and releasing decent numbers of citation-class (40”+) red drum from the end of the pier while casting large cut baits on fish finder rigs.
Panfish like spot, sea mullet, croaker, pigfish, bluefish, and more are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and other offerings.
