Northern Beaches – April 26, 2018
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum fishing has been very good. Anglers on the Hatteras Island beaches are finding puppy drum from Frisco up through Avon, and fishing the Point early in the morning has produced some good runs of citation 40+” red drum.
Some large “chopper” bluefish are being caught at the Point, and they are falling for cut mullet on a Carolina rig.
A 140 lb. black tip shark was recently caught and released as well at the Point.
Smaller double loop bottom rigs with shrimp have been producing puffers, sea mullet, and croakers in the Ramp 55 area.
While most fishing action has been focused on the Hatteras Island beaches, the red drum are also beginning to show in the Kill Devil Hills area. Larger fish (between 27-31”) have been caught in the surf between the Kitty Hawk and Avalon piers. Cut mullet fished on a Carolina rig is still the best setup, and anglers report only needing 2-6 oz. of weight to hold bottom.
A few speckled trout in the 18” range have been caught (and released) at Avalon Pier.
The little bridge in Manteo has produced small bluefish and stripers on both cut bait and soft plastics.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that yellowfins continue to bite well for boats getting out between the winds. These 50+ lb. fish are falling for Sea Witches rigged with ballyhoo. A popular color with the captains is blue/white.
A handful of good-sized (15-25 lb.) blackfin tuna are mixed in with the day’s catch.
Though the bite has slowed, wahoo are still being caught with the schools of tuna.
A couple of mako sharks have been caught and released. They’re also hitting trolled ballyhoo.
Inshore captains working the sounds have fared well in finding schools of striped bass. These 14-17” fish are readily hitting soft plastics fished around structure.
Erin White with a 20″ black drum caught in the Outer Banks surf near Ramp 4.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that boats are bringing in limits of good-sized yellowfins with consistency. Trolling skirted ballyhoo has been the top method, but boats with a greenstick are catching a few that way, too.
Blackfin tuna numbers have been up, with quite a few citation fish being reported.
Some “gaffer” dolphin are in the counts and have been biting well on baits rigged on colorful skirts that contain some pink or green.
Bluefin tuna fishing has about passed, though one boat went 2 for 4 on hookups last week.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that puffers have been biting very well. Double loop bottom rigs with shrimp or bloodworms are producing bites.
Scattered gray trout and spot have been biting the shrimp as well.
Some good-sized sea mullet have been reported, and they are favoring bloodworms. Fishbites artificial bloodworm strips have been used with a lot of recent success and are a nice change to the frozen baits options.
The water temperature at the pier is 52 degrees.
Ronaldo Crawley, of Gaysville, VT, with a 22″ flounder caught near the Oregon Inlet access construction zone.
Pete, of Nags Head Pier, reports that sea mullet are biting well on the warmer days. Bottom rigs with cut shrimp work best, but Fishbites bait strips are getting bit well and keep the hands clean.
A few puffers are being caught by anglers fishing halfway down the pier using small pieces of shrimp.
Some gray trout have been hanging around the pier pilings, and they’re also feeding on shrimp.
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding some red drum on the northern Kitty Hawk beaches. Fishing a Carolina rig with cut mullet is getting the most bites.
Schools of small (between 10-16”) bluefish have kept angers busy while waiting on the drum to bite.
A lot of puffers are around. They prefer bloodworms fished on a bottom rig.
The water temperature has hung around the mid 50s.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that puppy drum are biting well in the surf. Fishing a Carolina rig with cut bait is producing the bites. With the weather acting more like spring, the numbers of drum schooling on the northern Duck and Corolla beaches should greatly improve.
A few smaller bluefish are being caught with some larger (up to 26”) fish mixed in. They’re feeding on cut mullet.
There are still a lot of dogfish along the beaches with the water staying cool.
