Northern Beaches – November 17, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that fishing in the surf has been productive, with anglers connecting with trout, sea mullet, as well as small-sized puppy drum. Spots have also been running just off the beach.
The bite has slowed in the sound, but persistent anglers have connected with keeper-sized stripers and the seasonal trout bite. Try fishing from the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway when looking for both species.
The inshore bite has been slow as well, but similar to the sound, with the striper bite making up most of the action. Anglers have also found small reds mixed among the stripers.
Pier anglers report that the hot bite right now is trout, with piers further north reporting bluefish, black drum, and small reds as well.
Offshore boats are connecting with blackfin and yellowfin tuna, as well as wahoo, some of which are weighing between 40-60 lbs.
Andrew Druid, of Kill Devil Hills, with a 4 lb. flounder. The fish bit a Bowed Up jighead with a Z-Man Sexy Mullet in Oregon Inlet.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore boats are seeing a lot of action with blackfin tuna, between 10-19 lbs. each. Boats are also returning with a stray mahi or yellowfin, but the big action is coming from wahoo, with anglers landing citation-sized fish (many 40+ lbs.).
Inshore, there has been a good soundside striper bite, along with anglers connecting with puppy drum and speckled trout. Inshore anglers should use a mixed bag of lures and bait, including Gulp soft plastics, live bait, and artificial lures such as Meat Hogs.
Joe Lassiter with a double header of stripers caught on a double bucktail rig. The rockfish were caught at Manns Harbor. Photo courtesy of TWs Tackle.
Brian, of Wave Runner, reports scattered yellowfin and blackfin fishing on the Gulf Stream change, from 450 to the Point. The wahoo fishing has been great, and those wanting to target all three species should troll ballyhoo and pink sea witches on planers.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with bluefish, black drum, and sea mullet ranging from 10-12” and up. Pufferfish have returned to the waters around the pier as well.
Fishbites has been the favorite bait of choice, with the sand flea flavor catching everything from mullet, to drum, and even speckled trout (though most are undersized). Anglers can also use shrimp, cut mullet, and Fishbites in squid flavor to find success on bottom rigs.
Jerry, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with mostly puppy drum and speckled trout. Anglers need to have patience and sort through the undersized fish to find the keepers, which are few and far between.
Those dropping down bottom rigs have reported larger mullet being hooked.
The water temperature is 59 degrees.
Robert, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been connecting with a variety of fish. Those looking to hook red drum in the area, which are anywhere from undersized to slot puppies, should use cut mullet.
The speckled trout in the area are taking artificials, such as soft plastics, but they will also take cut bait.
Black drum are favoring shrimp, and anglers have been reporting fish from 13-21”.
The whiting hooked in the surf have all been bigger fish, around the 1 lb. mark.
Flounder have also been reported in the area, and they will currently take a variety of baits: Gulp, cut mullet, and Fishbites.
Keith, of Corolla Bait & Tackle, reports that most anglers are hooking puppy drum, trout, and bluefish. The puppy drum and bluefish are taking cut mullet, and those looking to target the trout should use soft plastics on jigheads.
