Northern Beaches – October 26, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has taken a turn for the better around the Northern beaches. Anglers have landed black drum, bluefish, speckled trout, sea mullet, spot, and red drum. A mix of cut baits, fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas have worked best.
In the sound, speckled trout have been the main target. A few anglers have also landed sea mullet, spot, and striper. In addition, the flounder bite has remained steady inshore. Anglers are having the most success using live minnows on Carolina rigs.
Offshore fishing has picked back up, as anglers have hooked a variety of fish. The wahoo bite has heated up, with multiple fish in the 40+ lb. range. Yellowfin, bigeye, and blackfin tuna have also fed well offshore, and anglers have made a couple sailfish releases, too.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that good numbers of dolphin and blackfin tuna have been landed when trolling offshore. The wahoo bite has heated up. Anglers have recently landed wahoo that have pushed the 60 lb. mark. A few yellowfin tuna have also been in the mix.
Just off the beach, the bluefish and false albacore have been feeding well. Those trolling Clarkspoons have found plenty of action, but casting jigs has also proved effective. In addition, a few amberjacks have been landed around nearshore structure.
Inshore fishing has remained steady, as a good mix of striper, speckled trout, and red drum have been caught. Most anglers have had success with soft plastics under popping corks.
Joe Riddick with a 21” redfish that was caught using a soft plastic on a jig head while kayak fishing in the sound.
Nikki, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the inshore bite has provided plenty of action for anglers. Bluefish, striper, flounder, and speckled trout have all been feeding well. Live and cut baits have been getting the job done.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has heated back up. Blackfin tuna and mahi have also been in the mix when trolling offshore, and a few yellowfin tuna have started to show up.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that inshore fishing has fired up with the falling temperatures. Those looking for red drum have found plenty of action in the shallow flats. Cut bait and popping corks with Gulp soft plastics have both done the job.
Speckled trout fishing has also heated up. Those tossing topwater plugs around grass lines have found the most fish, but soft plastics have also worked well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that speckled trout have shown up in good numbers around the pier. Most fish have been under-sized, but a few keepers have been in the mix. Black and red drum have also been holding near the pier. Most fish landed have been in the slot, and fresh shrimp has been the bait of choice.
Those using bloodworms and sand fleas have landed good numbers of spot and sea mullet.
A few big drum have been landed on cut mullet.
Jerry, of Nags Head Pier, reports that the puppy drum bite has been solid. Most fish landed have been in the slot.
Spot, sea mullet, speckled trout, and bluefish have also been landed. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have been the top baits.
Bill Rule with a 25” red drum that struck a chunk of cut bait in the Duck surf.
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has heated up with the temperature change. Those looking for red drum have found fish of all sizes when using cut mullet. Flounder and speckled trout have also been in the mix.
Those fishing with bloodworms and sand fleas have landed good numbers of sea mullet, spot, and croaker in the suds.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have found plenty of action in the surf zone. Slot-sized puppy drum and big drum (in the 40+” range) have both been landed on cut mullet. Most of the bigger drum have been hooked at night.
A few sharks and bluefish have also been hooked on cut mullet, and those fishing with bloodworms have landed black drum, sea mullet, croaker, spot, and speckled trout.
Just off the beach, the false albacore bite has remained steady. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs at busting fish has worked best.
King fishing has also been solid near the beach. Slow trolling live baits has been the ticket to hooking good numbers of kings.
Offshore, the tuna bite has heated up. Blackfin, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna have all been landed.
