Northern Beaches – July 9, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf casters are hooking panfish and some small blues along the beaches of the northern Outer Banks. Shrimp and Fish Bite baits are fooling many of the fish.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are connecting with more panfish on baits and some keeper speckled trout and flounder while working artificials.
Boaters fishing around Oregon Inlet are connecting with panfish and gray trout on bottom rigs.
Trollers fishing the inlet and along the beachfront are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish. Most are falling for trolled spoons.
Anglers are still encountering some cobia and red drum while cruising within a few miles of the beach.
Those fishing the wrecks and other structure in the ocean are connecting with triggerfish, sea bass, and amberjacks.
Offshore boats are hooking plenty of dolphin along with yellowfin tuna and some large bigeye tuna (to 200+ lbs.). The billfish bite has been excellent on some recent days as well, with white and blue marlin, sailfish, and a spearfish released recently.
Nikki Arko with a citation 10 lb. sheepshead she weighed in at TW’s Tackle.
Kat, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet continues to connect with solid numbers of gaffer and bailer dolphin and yellowfin tuna on most trips. Some wahoo, blackfin, and bigeye tuna have been mixed in, along with a handful of amberjacks and king mackerel.
Billfishing remains good as well, with anglers earning citations for blue and white marlin releases over the past week.
Nearshore boats are connecting with plenty of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some false albacore while trolling near the inlet and along the beachfront. Some cobia are still around and feeding within a few miles of the beachfront. Amberjacks are feeding around structure off the beaches and biting baits and artificial lures.
Bottom fishing in the inlet has been producing plenty of panfish like pigfish, spot, croaker, and sea mullet, along with some flounder and gray trout.
Anglers fishing inshore have been finding action with speckled trout and sharks.
Hayes Cummings and Stephan Ford with an upper-slot red drum and a keeper flounder they hooked while soaking bait in Beaufort Inlet with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that bigeye tuna are still around and have provided some bites and action on many recent trips (most 100-200 lbs.). There are still good numbers of yellowfin feeding offshore as well, and anglers are also hooking blackfin and skipjack tunas, dolphin, and a few wahoo. Large numbers of sharks have been feeding in the same areas as the tunas and taking an interest in the trolled baits along with some hooked fish.
Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking plenty of spot, croaker, sea mullet, and other bottomfish while soaking bait on double-drop rigs.
Plug casters are connecting with bluefish and a few spanish mackerel.
A 45” barracuda was caught and released from the pier after it bit a live bait early in the week.
The water is 74 degrees.
