Added on Thursday, March 21, 2019  Fish Post

Northern Beaches – March 21, 2019

Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing action has been focused on southern Hatteras as the water temperature slowly rises.

Sea mullet are being reported around Ramp 55 and have been concentrated in the deeper sloughs.

Blowtoads are in the same areas, with both species feeding well on frozen shrimp fished on bottom rigs.

Further down towards Frisco, action has been on the thick schools of croaker.

Red drum are in the surf around Buxton and can be caught on both bottom rigs and artificial baits. For fishing soft plastics, it has been beneficial to find the schools in the holes first, moving up and down the beach to locate them.

Dogfish sharks and skates are a winter-time staple and readily feed on any baits available on the bottom.

The sound fishing down around Hatteras has been steady, with speckled trout and red drum hitting artificial baits worked slowly on ledges and over oyster beds.

Surf fishing on the northern Nags Head area beaches has been slow, with water temperatures still in the 40’s, but a few more weeks of this warming trend should change that for the better.

Offshore boats are catching yellowfin tuna in good numbers, with some days providing limits.

A few larger bigeye tuna have been mixed in.

Bluefin tuna are being caught and have been a large class this year. Recent catches have been up to 98”, but fish to 800 lbs. have been caught this winter.

Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna has been the target of most boats. With the fish sticking around this year, some anglers have even taken their shots on them with spinning gear, but trolling continues to be the most productive.

Yellowfin tuna are being caught, though the numbers have been a bit sporadic. One day anglers will find just a couple fish, and on the next day, up to 23 fish. A steady weather pattern should help with consistency in the next few weeks.

 

Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers are looking forward to the coming April bite with the weather beginning to turn warmer.

Speckled trout will become more active in the sound, and some larger fish will be caught on Meat Hog soft plastics fished on lighter jig heads.

Puppy drum will be mixed in with the trout, as the schools push inside from the surf zone following the bait into the sounds. Anglers will be targeting these fish on the flats near the inlets and along edges of oyster beds.

Over-slot red drum may begin to push inshore with the bait as well, and initially large cut baits will work when fished in the area inlets (as well as sight casting when coming up on a school).

All of this is weather dependent, and anglers have their fingers crossed that the warming trend continues uninterupted.

 

Fishing Unlimited is closed for the season and will re-open in mid-April.

 

Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the bluefin tuna bite has been very good, with giants to 596 lbs. coming back to the docks and keeping the fish cleaners busy.

A good number of blackfin tuna began to show, and anglers are loving this recent offshore action.

Yellowfin and a few bigeye tuna are mixed in on the daily counts.

There are always sharks out there, and a nice mako was released recently.

 

Nags Head Pier is closed for the season and will re-open in April.

 

Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers out bottom fishing with Carolina rigs are catching a few dogfish sharks on frozen cut mullet. Fishing has been slow due to cold water temperatures, but the next few weeks should begin to turn that. There are reports of better bottom fishing on the southern beaches, and these longer, warmer days should begin to push those fish north.

Ashley, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers out bottom fishing are finding dogfish sharks and skates with regularity. Frozen shrimp or mullet works well for both.

There are a few reports of sea mullet and blowtoads moving up the beach from Rodanthe area beaches, and NOBX anglers anticipate seeing these fish soon.

 

John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been excited by a showing of bluefish on the Duck and Corolla area beaches.

The surf anglers on Hatteras Island beaches are catching puffers and sea mullet using frozen shrimp.

The longer days and a consistent weather pattern should continue the trend of fish working their way north.

Offshore boats are catching giant bluefin tuna and yellowfin.

 

Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers on the northern beaches are finding action on dogfish sharks and skates. Carolina-rigged frozen mullet or shrimp will both work for these species.

Offshore charters are catching bluefin tuna while trolling large, skirted ballyhoo. Old, proven colors (blue/white, pink/white, and crystal) have all been producing some of these giant fish.

A few wahoo are being caught out in the Stream, and they’re also hitting the trolled baits.

Yellowfin tuna are mixed in the counts, and the coming weeks should provide anglers the beginning of the great April tuna bite that the area sees. Trolling skirted ballyhoo will continue to be productive as the weather patterns stabilize.