Northern Beaches – July 20, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has slowed down some, but anglers tossing fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are still putting sea mullet and croaker in the cooler. A few flounder, skates, and pufferfish have also been mixed in.
In the sound, anglers are having success hooking into speckled trout, puppy drum, striper, and a few keeper flounder. Fishing live minnows on Carolina rigs has worked best. A few croaker and sea mullet have been landed inshore when tossing fresh shrimp or bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Nearshore fishing has yielded high numbers of spanish when trolling Clarkspoons just off the beach. Kings have been in the mix as well. The kings will hit trolled cigar minnows or Drone spoons just a bit further off the beach than the spanish. A few cobia have also been landed nearshore.
Offshore fishing for yellowfin has remained consistent. A few wahoo have been in the mix as well. Dolphin have been active, with a mix of bailers and gaffers. A few sailfish have also been released.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that limits of yellowfin tuna (up to 78 lbs.) are being brought back to the dock, with a few blackfin also in the mix. Bigeye tuna are feeding well, too, and some of the bigeyes have pushed the 140 lb. mark. Wahoo are very scattered, but one at 88 lbs. hit the docks.
Anglers targeting spanish and kings nearshore are finding plenty of action. Trolling Clarkspoons for the spanish and dead cigar minnows for the kings has worked best. Ribbonfish and moonfish are also plentiful in the nearshore waters.
Inshore fishing for red drum and flounder has started to heat up. Those tossing live minnows on Carolina rigs have found some keeper fish to put in the cooler. A few sea mullet have also been landed inshore.
Julianna, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore fishing has produced a wide variety of fish. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna have been feeding well, and many anglers are landing limits of fish. Those targeting blue marlin and sailfish have had made a few releases. Bottom fishing has produced good numbers of black sea bass and tilefish.
Nearshore fishing has stayed consistent, and those targeting spanish and bluefish are having success trolling Clarkspoons. Kings and dolphin have been in the mix a little further offshore, and trolling dead cigar minnows has worked best. A few tilefish and ribbonfish have also been landed.
Will Penny with a 20” speckled trout caught in the sound near Nags Head.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that cobia are still hanging around nearshore, and tossing live baits has been the best way to hook into them. Large red drum are feeding around the inlets, and live mullet on a Carolina rig or a large bucktail has worked best for them.
Just off the beach, spanish and kings are mixed together. The spanish have been hitting silver Clarkspoons, while the kings have done better on Drone spoons.
Inshore, puppy drum are feeding on the flats. With the warming water temperatures, anglers have had the best luck targeting these shallow water fish early in the morning, and those casting gold spoons have landed the highest numbers of fish.
Anthony, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp and sand fleas are connecting with croaker, speckled trout, triggerfish, and spots. A few bluefish have also been landed when casting Gotcha plugs.
Tom, of Nags Head Pier, reports that sea mullet and speckled trout have been feeding best lately, and bottom fishing with fresh shrimp has been the ticket. A couple of under-sized cobia have also been landed.
The water temperature is 72 degrees.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers hitting the surf using sand fleas and bloodworms on bottom rigs are landing spot, croaker, flounder, and whiting. A few puppy drum are also being hooked, but they prefer cut mullet.
Fishing the inlet has produced good numbers of keeper speckled trout. Over-slot red drum have been feeding around the inlet, too, and drift fishing with fresh cut mullet has worked best for them.
Spanish and kings have been mixed together nearshore, and many anglers are catching double digit numbers of fish. Trolling Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows has worked best for the kings, while Clarkspoons have been the ticket for the spanish.
Those venturing offshore have been rewarded with catching limits of yellowfin and bigeye tuna. A mix of bailer and gaffer mahi have also been landed.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder have been feeding well in the surf, and anglers tossing Fishbites have had the most success. When fishing bloodworms on bottom rigs, there have been consistent catches of sea mullet, croaker, and spot.
Around the inlets, big red drum have been landed when casting bucktails to them. Spanish and bluefish are feeding well around the bait pods, and trolling Clarkspoons has worked best for filling the cooler. Around the nearshore wrecks, dropping live baits has provided plenty of action with amberjacks. Most fish have been in the 20-30 lb. range.
Trolling for bigeye tuna has been productive, as many anglers are landing high numbers of fish. A few sailfish have been landed while trolling ballyhoo.
