Northern Beaches – Aug 30, 2018
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the southern Hatteras beaches are seeing large schools of bluefish around Avon being caught by anglers throwing glass minnow jigs off the beach.
Spot are being hooked along the bottom in the same areas on both fresh and frozen shrimp.
Pompano have been biting Carolina-rigged sand fleas from ramp 44 down through Frisco, and some puppy drum are being landed on cut baits around Hatteras.
The Kitty Hawk area beaches are seeing catches of sea mullet, bluefish, and pompano.
Flounder fishing has been very good, with a steady ratio of keepers being caught in the deeper holes along the surf. A Gulp soft plastic with a 1/4 oz. jig head fished slowly along the bottom has worked well, as has bottom rigs tipped with fresh shrimp.
The local piers are reporting numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish being caught on Gotcha plugs. Sea mullet and spot have been biting well for anglers bottom fishing with shrimp, and fishing Carolina-rigged sand fleas near the barnacle-covered pilings has produced a few sheepshead.
Nearshore anglers are finding king mackerel and scattered mahi while trolling skirted baits around wrecks. These same wrecks have held strong schools of amberjack for anglers looking for jigging action.
Closer to the beach, trolling Clarkspoons behind planers is producing lots of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a few false albacore.
The pilings around Oregon Inlet Bridge are holding some large (to 8 lbs.) sheepshead.
Further into the sound around Manteo, anglers fishing soft plastics around bridge pilings are hooking some good-sized striped bass.
The little bridge anglers are catching stripers, trout, spot, and a few keeper flounder.
Offshore anglers have been on a strong wahoo bite as of recent, with multiple large fish (35+ lbs.) coming back to the docks.
Both yellowfin and larger blackfin tuna have been out towards the break, and they’re hitting Ilanders and other skirted baits in a variety of colors.
A few white marlin releases were reported throughout the week.
Tilefish have been biting well for anglers dropping bait down to the live bottoms.
Mahi are scattered inshore of the break, but working a nice weed line when they’re found is producing more gaffers than slingers.
Mark, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that tuna fishing has been very productive, with blackfins and some healthy 35-40 lb. yellowfins coming in on daily trips.
Wahoo have provided boats with some solid action on skirted baits run deep behind a planer.
Both white and blue marlin are being caught (and released) out around the break.
Dolphin are scattered from the break to the beach, with grass lines really helping anglers find these broken-up mahi schools.
Nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and bluefish while trolling off the beach to 10 miles.
The head boat anglers are finding flounder, sea mullet, pompano, puffers, and bluefish. The best tactic has been fishing with bottom rigs around the inlet with cut squid and shrimp.
Rob Leitner with a 27″ redfish that he hooked while fishing in the suds at Nags Head.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that red drum fishing has been steady for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged cut mullet. Putting baits near ledges and oyster beds up on the flats has been the most productive in pulling some slot and over-slot fish to the boat.
A few speckled trout are being caught around grass points and oyster beds, with soft plastics under a popping cork as the go to.
Flounder are being found mostly around structure.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that blackfin tuna have made a strong showing and are being caught on skirted ballyhoo.
Large wahoo (to 42 lbs.) are being landed out towards the break.
White and blue marlin releases are being reported, with one blue going 107”.
Mahi have been in smaller groups, but boats are still able to find some fish every day.
Nearshore anglers working their trolling gear are catching false albacore, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.
Dropping to the bottom around local wrecks has allowed many anglers to hook into amberjacks.
Julia, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers fishing bottom rigs are finding a wide variety of fish to pull up. Sea mullet, spot, spades, and croakers are all being caught.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been actively working schools of bait around the pier and can be caught on Gotcha plugs.
A few king mackerel have been landed off the end of the pier, including a recent 44 lb. fish coming over the rails.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing for sea mullet and croakers has offered steady action at the pier. Fresh or frozen shrimp has been the bait of choice.
Bluefish and some smaller spanish mackerel are being caught on Gotcha plugs.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing has been productive on the northern beaches. Large sea mullet and spot are being hooked on shrimp and sand fleas.
Some pompano have been biting Carolina-rigged sand fleas fished in drop-offs just off the shoreline.
Flounder sit in these same holes, and they have been caught on shrimp and soft plastics.
Bluefish have made a strong showing for anglers casting glass minnow jigs off the beach.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are finding sea mullet, pompano, and flounder while fishing on the bottom with shrimp and sand fleas.
Bluefish are being caught on casting spoons thrown to the blues busting on bait.
Nearshore trips have been finding some late season cobia.
False albacore and spanish mackerel are being caught while trolling a little farther off the beach, and live bottoms and wrecks are loaded with tilefish and black sea bass.
