Northern Beaches – June 23, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that the bluefish bite has been good when the water is clear, and the same goes for pompano, which have been feeding throughout the day on shrimp and sand fleas. The pompano are often caught just a few feet off the drop-off close to the beach where they are waiting for the sand fleas to be swept into their mouths by receding waves.
Anglers on the beach have also caught sea mullet in the 1 lb. range on the incoming tide, as well as scattered croaker.
Anglers fishing the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway have reported trout, black drum, spot, and croaker.
The piers have seen bluefish, spadefish, and spanish mackerel.
Inshore and offshore boats have reported a few cobia, and there have been a considerable amount of spanish and blues. Speckled trout, sea bass, amberjack, shark, and albacore were also decked.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is still strong, and there have been some nice-sized yellowfin, a few wahoo, and a number of sailfish releases.
Roger Love with a bluefish he caught while surf fishing in Corolla. Photo courtsey of TW’s Tackle.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore anglers have reeled in yellowfin tuna and big eyes, including two recent fish that weighed in at 142 and 138 lbs. There are also a lot of gaffer dolphins still being caught offshore, as well as wahoo, bonito, and blackfin tuna.
Nearshore fishermen are catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, cobia, and amberjack 1-3 miles offshore, and the inshore guys are finding stripers, flounder, speckled trout, and a few sea bass in the sound.
Brian, of Wave Runner Sportfishing Charters, reports that the yellowfin tuna fishing has been really strong from The Point to the 650 line. There have also been scattered big eye tuna between The Point and 650, and scattered dolphin on the lower end on the hot water change.
Matt Thalman with a 22″ black drum he caught fishing on the beach in Corolla.
Tony, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been primarily catching spadefish, although spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around. The best times for fishing have been the first two and last two hours of daylight.
The flounder are also starting to bite, and there have been a lot of undersized flounder as well as a few scattered keepers.
Several striped bass have been caught recently (including one going 30”). As the waters start to calm down and continue to stay warm, anglers can expect king mackerel and cobia fishing to pick up.
Pete, of Nags Head Fishing Pier, reports that anglers have been catching bluefish, spanish mackerel, and sea mullet. Blow toads have also been in and out. The bluefish have been hitting daily on Gotcha plugs, while the bottom fish are biting bloodworms the best (but have also been caught on shrimp).
Ed, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder fishing has been really good, especially during an east wind. Anglers should get their flounder rigs or plastic Gulp rigs out, and cast and retrieve while covering a lot of area and moving along the beach. Chartreuse and red & blue rigs have been working the best for luring the flounder in.
Beach fishermen are also seeing solid numbers of sea mullet caught on bloodworms, and mid-to-late June has also brought in some more unusual surf catches, including rockfish that have come in through the inlet, and bluefish in the 10 lb. and over range.
Anglers are also starting to see slot red drum, and structure fish are starting to show up around the piers, including spadefish, sheepshead, triggerfish, and a few pompano. Shark fishing has also been big, with fish landed in the 7-8’ range, and as the water warms up over 70 degrees, anglers can expect to see a bigger variety of off-the-beach catches in bigger numbers.
On the sound side from Sothern Shores to Corolla, there has been white perch, a few drum, and speckled trout caught in the Currituck Sound waters.
Offshore, anglers are reeling in tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and billfish.
Inshore, anglers are catching bluefish, the occasional cobia, and spanish mackerel.
Wreck fishing anglers have also landed sheepshead, triggerfish, and spadefish, and anglers in the sound have caught a few trout, red drum, and bottom fish.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching bluefish, spanish mackerel, and flounder in different sloughs up and down the beach. There have also been croaker, spot, sea mullet, and gray trout caught from Pine Island to Corova.
Inshore fishermen are catching a lot of spanish, scattered bluefish, some cobia, and small sharks. Nearshore wreck fishing has resulted in amberjack, cobia, and a few mahi.
Offshore vessels are catching yellowfin tuna, mahi, and scattered billfish.
