Northern Beaches – June 22, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers targeting the surf are hooking sea mullet, skates, puppy drum, speckled trout, and sharks while fishing fresh shrimp and cut bait. Fishing from the piers has produced sea mullet, trout, cobia, bluefish, triggerfish, spadefish, and flounder.
Around the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, the main action has been bottom fishing for spot, black drum, puppy drum, trout, and stripers.
Nearshore, spanish fishing has given anglers plenty of action. Bluefish have been in the mix as well. Amberjacks, triggerfish, and sharks have been holding around nearshore structure, too.
Offshore, the tuna and dolphin action remains steady. Large bigeye tuna have been caught in the area, as well as a few blue marlin releases.
Carla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore in the 25-30 mile range, multiple citation yellowfin tuna have been landed, and limits are abundant. Anglers trolling in this range are also hooking in to bigeye tuna and gaffer-sized dolphin.
From the beach out to 8 miles, bottom fishing for triggerfish and black sea bass has kept anglers busy. Trolling Clarkspoons just off the beach is boxing plenty of spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing near the beach has produced plenty of sea mullet, pufferfish, flounder, and croaker while using fresh shrimp.
On the inside, anglers are finding limits of speckled trout while fishing with live shrimp.
Julianna, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore action with yellowfin and bigeye tuna have kept anglers busy. Large gaffer mahi have also been mixed in the same areas, with a few bailer-sized fish as well.
Those chasing billfish have found success trolling Ilander lures.
Nearshore, cobia are feeding around nearshore structure and bait pods. Drift fishing with live menhaden or casting bucktails has been the ticket for the cobia.
Kings are feeding a few miles off the beach, and a few mahi are mixed in. Trolling cigar minnows has given anglers the most action. Just off the beach, spanish and bluefish are hitting trolled Clarkspoons.
Jim,Kris, Lauren, Erin, and Adam Rusak; of Charlotte, with 9 Bigeye Tuna totalling 604 lbs. The tuna were caught on ballyhoo fishing 38 miles out of oregon inlet aboard “Fintastic,” with Capt. Dick Harris.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that cobia fishing is starting to slow down, but anglers wanting to target them are still finding a few around nearshore structure. Flounder, however, have started to feed better around the nearshore wrecks and ledges, as well as in the sound. Live minnows and Gulp plastics have been working on the flatfish, and look for flounder gigging to get progressively better as the water temperature rises.
Fishing the grass flats in the sound has kept anglers busy with speckled trout. Most fish are falling for topwater baits in the morning and Gulp plastics or live baits later in the day. Lower to mid-slot red drum have also been mixed in with the trout and are willing to take the same baits.
With warming temperatures and clearer water, the dolphin bite is moving closer to the beach.
Mike, of Jennette’s Peir, reports that flounder have made their way to the surf zone, and anglers are finding some short fish and a few keepers.
Triggerfish and spadefish have been feeding well and are willing to take small pieces of fresh shrimp. Spanish and bluefish have been active when the water is calm, and plugging with Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers is doing the trick.
Anglers looking for puppy drum are finding luck fishing cut bait on the bottom (as well as Gulp plastics on jig heads). While working plastics, speckled trout and striper are also being landed.
John, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bluefish and spanish have been feeding well in the morning and evening hours. Plugging with Gotcha plugs has been the most effective way to catch large numbers of fish.
Neil, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has heated up, and many fish in the 14-18” range have been landed (as well as one fish that hit the 28” mark). Most anglers are finding success working Gulp swimming mullets on 1/2-1 oz. jig heads.
Slot drum have been feeding in the sound, and cut bait fished on Carolina rigs has done the trick. Those tossing Gulp shrimp and jerk shads on 3/8 oz. jig heads have been hooking limits of reds, too. Some speckled trout have also been landed while working Gulp plastics, but most have been undersized.
In the surf, there are spot, croaker, and sea mullet willing to take bloodworms and sand fleas fished on the bottom. Spanish and bluefish have also been in the surf zone, and tossing Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers has produced plenty of action.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that bloodworms have been the bait of choice for sea mullet and croaker in the surf. Bluefish and spanish are also being caught, and tossing spoons from the beach is the best method.
Just off the beach to 3 miles, anglers trolling spoons are hooking plenty of spanish. Cobia are also feeding in the area and have been hitting live menhaden or bucktails when casting around bait pods and nearshore structure.
Offshore bottom fishing in the 20 mile range has kept anglers busy with catches of black sea bass, tilefish, and amberjacks.
