Northern Beaches – August 27, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that fishing on the local beachfront remains a bit slow, but anglers are hooking scattered bluefish and sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp, cut baits, and other offerings. An over-slot red drum was also caught and released by a local surf caster last weekend.
Anglers are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the local piers, and calm surf conditions mean anglers may get a shot at the fish from the beach as well. Heavier metal jigs can be better for reaching the schools of blues and spanish from the beachfront.
Adam Ambrose, of Columbia, NC, with a 18.29 lb., 34″ false albacore that bit a live bait off the end of Outer Banks Pier.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are hooking croaker and other panfish while bottom fishing. Some trout and flounder have been falling for lures that anglers are working from the bridge.
Nearshore trollers continue to hook solid numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront. Most are falling for Clarkspoons and other flashy lures. Some ribbonfish, king mackerel, and cobia have also been biting over the past week for inshore and nearshore boaters.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with flounder, spot, sea mullet, pufferfish, and more.
Anglers dropping baits to wrecks off Oregon Inlet are hooking some triggerfish, sea bass, and a few amberjacks.
The offshore fleet is still hooking big numbers of dolphin while trolling and tossing squid and cut baits to schools of fish around the boat or under floating weeds. Some wahoo and yellowfin tuna are also falling for trollers’ baits, and boats continue to release blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Daniel Sconce, Olney, MD, with a 31″ red drum he caught and released from the beach at Southern Shores. Photo courtesy of TW’s Bait and Tackle.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers continue to hook big numbers of dolphin while on offshore trolling trips out of the marina (with many limit catches and gaffers to 40 lbs. mixed in with the smaller bailers). Yellowfin tuna (to 70+ lbs.) and wahoo are also taking an interest in boats’ baits, and a mako shark was also landed last week. Boats targeting billfish continue to find success, and plenty of sailfish and white and blue marlin release flags have been flying when they return.
Anglers trolling nearshore are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel along with some bluefish.
Those fishing inshore have been connecting with plenty of slot and over-slot red drum along with some sharks.
Anglers bottom fishing in the inlet are finding plenty of action with flounder, bluefish, croaker, spot, sea mullet, gray trout, pigfish, and more.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that limit catches of dolphin are still providing the majority of the action for the Oregon Inlet offshore fleet. Some scattered yellowfin tuna are also finding their way to the fish boxes. Boats targeting billfish are still seeing some solid action as well and releasing decent numbers of sailfish, white marlin, and blue marlin. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the blue water pelagics, and anglers are also hooking plenty of dolphin on squid and cut baits fished on lighter tackle when schools surround the boat.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing some solid spanish mackerel action in the early morning hours on recent days. Bluefish are mixed in, and both are falling for casting lures like Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishing is producing plenty of action with spot, pigfish, sea bass, sea mullet, flounder, and more. Shrimp, squid, and other baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
A 27 lb. king mackerel fell for a live bait off the end of the pier last week.
