Northern Beaches – August 31, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that fish in the surf have been scattered. A few sea mullet, sheepshead, spot, spadefish, and flounder have been landed from the pier and surf when fishing the bottom. The most consistent bite for beach anglers has been bluefish, and tossing Gotcha plugs has been the key to hooking good numbers of blues.
Sound fishing has been fairly consistent, too. Speckled trout, red drum, and scattered bottomfish have been the main targets. Flounder have also been feeding well inshore, and live minnows have been the ticket.
Just off the beach, spanish and bluefish have provided plenty of action for anglers trolling Clarkspoons. Casting jigs at busting fish has also been an effective method to land good numbers of fish.
Those chasing billfish offshore have had great success. Many anglers have released blue marlin, white marlin, and sails while trolling the bluewater. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna have also been feeding well offshore. A few dolphin and wahoo have been in the mix as well, but most of these two species have been scattered.
Anglers dropping to the bottom have hooked in to good numbers of tilefish.
Brandon Lee, of Windsor, VA, with a 20 lb. class dolphin that struck a sight-casted bonita chunk 20 miles offshore of Oregon Inlet.
Ross, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that billfish grand slams have not been uncommon for anglers trolling offshore. Blue marlin, white marlin, and high numbers of sailfish have been released. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna have also been holding offshore and feeding well.
The wahoo and dolphin bite has been scattered, but those covering good amounts of water have found a few fish for the box.
Tilefish have still been the main target for those dropping to the bottom.
Nearshore fishing for spanish and kings has kept anglers busy. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs to fish feeding around bait pods has worked best.
Some big red drum have been hanging around nearshore structure, and dropping live mullet as well as fresh cut mullet has worked well. Triggerfish have also been holding around the wrecks and reefs.
In addition, a few weed lines have been found nearshore, providing a few mahi.
Inshore fishing has produced limits of speckled trout and red drum around the marshes. Tossing live baits and soft plastics under popping corks has been the best method. A few cobia, flounder, gray trout, and black drum have also been landed inshore.
Nikki, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that those looking for billfish offshore have found plenty of action. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish have been abundant offshore, and most fish that are raised have been willing to eat.
Yellowfin and blackfin tuna have been feeding well offshore as well.
Just off the beach, spanish and kings have been the main targets. Trolling spoons or slow trolling live baits has produced the best numbers of fish.
Around the inlets, the trout fishing has started to pick up. Drifting live shrimp under float rigs and jigging soft plastics have been the best tactics.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that cobia have been the main target for inshore and nearshore anglers. Live baits and jigs (by Meat Hog) have produced good numbers of fish.
Alan, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishing from the pier has produced flounder, bluefish, pigfish, sea mullet, sheepshead, and sand perch. Anglers have had the most success casting out fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms.
There was also one keeper cobia landed from the end of the pier.
Tim, of Nags Head Pier, reports that those fishing the bottom have landed good numbers of sea mullet, croaker, and spot. Bloodworms, sand fleas, and fresh shrimp have been the top baits.
Bluefish have also been feeding well, primarily in the early morning and late evening hours. Tossing Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers have landed the most blues.
Bob, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has remained steady. Those fishing the bottom have landed spot, croaker, whiting, flounder, and pompano, and the top producing baits have been bloodworms and sand fleas.
Bluefish are also feeding well in the surf. Anglers casting Stingsilvers and other metal jigs have hooked in to plenty of action.
Mikey Sabadic with a speckled trout that bit a Z-Man soft plastic near Nags Head.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has produced good numbers of puppy drum for anglers fishing with fresh cut mullet.
Those casting jigs have hooked bluefish and spanish.
Fishing the bottom with bloodworms, sand fleas, and fresh shrimp has landed sea mullet, croaker, spot, and flounder. Some flounder landed have hit the 20” mark.
Schools of big red drum have moved in to the sound. Fishing with fresh cut mullet on the bottom has been the best way to target these trophy fish.
Just off the beach, amberjacks have been feeding well. Most fish have held around the wrecks and reefs and have been willing to hit cut baits dropped to the bottom.
Offshore fishing has produced great billfish action. Anglers trolling have released white marlin and sailfish. A mix of blackfin and yellowfin tuna, as well as some mahi, have been landed, but most of these species have been spread out.
