Northern Beaches – September 28, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has been up and down with the changing weather conditions. The spot have started to move in, and bloodworms have done the trick in getting them to bite. By using a mix of fresh shrimp, bloodworms, cut mullet, and sand fleas, anglers have also landed puppy drum, sea mullet, bluefish, croaker, and black drum.
A few bull drum are being landed from the piers, and large cut baits are working best.
Inshore fishing has produced black drum, speckled trout, striper, and puppy drum. A mix of live minnows and cut baits fished on a Carolina rig have been the top producers.
Offshore fishing has been hit and miss with the weather, but anglers venturing out have been rewarded with quality fish. The wahoo bite has picked up, and good numbers have been landed while trolling rigged ballyhoo. The dolphin bite has also heated back up, with some days producing limits of fish. A few blackfin tuna have been in the mix, too.
The billfish bite is hanging around, as steady numbers of white marlin and sailfish releases have been made. There was also a 500 lb. blue marlin release.
Drew Burns with a slot redfish caught while surf fishing near ramp 4.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that dolphin fishing has picked back up. Anglers have had great days landing double digit numbers of fish. Skirted ballyhoo has been the ticket to getting bites.
In the sound, the speckled trout bite has been hot. Many days have yielded limits of fish in the 2-4 lb. range. Puppy drum have also been mixed in with the specs. Live minnows and shrimp rigged on Carolina rigs and float rigs have worked best, but soft plastics under popping corks have done the job, too.
A few flounder have been feeding inshore. Most of the flatfish have preferred a live mullet on a Carolina rig.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the wahoo bite has improved. Anglers have been coming back to the dock with plenty of meat in the cooler. The dolphin fishing has also picked up considerably, with limits of fish not uncommon, and a few white marlin releases have been made.
Inshore fishing has produced plenty of action for anglers. Those bottom fishing with fresh shrimp have landed blowfish, sea mullet, and croaker.
The flounder bite has heated up, and a Carolina-rigged finger mullet cast near structure has been the key to success.
Puppy drum and speckled trout have been holding in the marsh. A mix of live mullet and live shrimp has been the best way to find limits of fish.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that trout fishing is starting to ramp up in the sound. Topwaters and MirrOlures have been the top producers for the specs.
Those looking for puppy drum have found a good bite on the flats. Casting gold spoons and popping corks with soft plastics have found plenty of action.
Flounder are holding in the sound in good numbers. Gigging has produced some fish that have pushed the 5 lb. mark.
E.K. with a redfish that hit a gold Johnson spoon near Nags Head. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that large red drum are starting to show up in the surf. Anglers from the pier have landed multiple fish in the 40-46” range, and cut mullet fished on the bottom has worked best.
Those fishing with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have landed black drum and croaker.
Jerry, of Nags Head Pier, reports that fishing with fresh shrimp and cut mullet has been productive. Puppy drum, sea mullet, and speckled trout have all been landed.
A few sharks have been hooked from the end of the pier.
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has started to heat up. Anglers fishing with cut mullet and shrimp have boxed a variety of fish. Spot, croaker, whiting, black drum, red drum, and a few speckled trout have all been landed.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the puppy drum bite has started to improve. Cut mullet has been the best bet to hook the reds. At night, some large red drum (up to 40”) have also been landed.
Those using fresh shrimp and sand fleas have boxed sea mullet and croaker.
Nearshore fishing has been up and down, but anglers have found plenty of spanish and bluefish. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs have been the best methods to target both species. A few false albacore have also been in the mix.
Around the inlets, the bottom fishing has been consistent. Live minnows and fresh shrimp have been the best baits. Anglers have caught flounder, speckled trout, black drum, red drum, sea mullet, croaker, and spot.
