Northern Beaches – April 11, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing on the Hatteras Island beaches has been great.
Sea mullet have been feeding well on bottom-rigged shrimp around the jetties and Ramp 55.
Good numbers of blowtoads and pinfish are being caught in the Frisco area using shrimp.
Puppy drum are being hooked on cut mullet from beaches south of the Point, while citation red drum (up to 49”) have been caught from the Point and areas just north.
Large numbers of dogfish sharks and skates are also at the Point, and they’re biting cut mullet.
Anglers have started to report bluefish being caught out at the Point, too, and a warm stretch should really break the bite open.
Sheepshead and a few larger black drum (up to 6 lbs.) have been landed around Buxton.
The Nags Head beach area anglers are finding sea mullet, puffers, and skates while bottom fishing.
Striped bass are biting around local bridges in the sound.
Nearshore anglers have been enjoying good bottom fishing around local structure and live bottom, with both black sea bass and dogfish sharks aggressively hitting the baits.
A few flounder are being caught, but getting bait past the black sea bass has made consistent numbers hard to come by.
Offshore boats are bringing in good numbers of blackfin and yellowfin tuna, and a few large false albacore have been mixed in with the tuna.
Bluefin tuna (up to 160 lbs.) are still being caught, but that bite could end shortly with the water temperature rising.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that tuna fishing has been very good, with both yellowfins and blackfins coming back to the docks.
A few bluefin tuna (up to 160 lbs.) have been caught, but it seems these fish have mostly moved on.
Wahoo have been biting well for boats trolling skirted baits out in the Gulf Stream.
A few dolphin have been landed, and the bite should only get better in the coming weeks.
Nearshore boats fishing around structure and live bottoms are catching large numbers of black sea bass and a few amberjack.
Flounder are hitting baits fished on the bottom; however, it is still a bit early for good numbers, as the fish are just starting to move into the area.
False albacore and schools of bluefish are being seen closer in, and casting jigs or spoons to the feeding schools are hooking a few fish.
Aaron Hague with a red drum he landed in the surf near Ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that slot-sized red drum are starting to push into the sound, and they can be caught around the inlet with cut mullet.
Speckled trout are being hooked by anglers fishing soft plastics around inshore ledges and oyster beds.
A few over-slot drum are being landed on the Hatteras Island beaches, and a run of steady weather should push some of those fish north. Anglers can get in on this red drum action by soaking large cut baits in the inlets and sight casting bucktails to schooled fish.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that yellowfin tuna are being caught in good numbers by boats trolling skirted ballyhoo offshore.
A few scattered mahi have hit the same trolled baits, but it’s a bit early for the area to consistently see them.
Nearshore anglers have had a great time pulling up dogfish sharks that are hitting baits on every drop.
Bluefish are moving into the area, and anglers have been sight casting small 1/2 oz. jigs to them.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that fishing has been slow, with mainly shad coming over the rails. The shad are being caught on bottom rigs with bait shrimp.
There are reports of pufferfish and small bluefish in the area, and plank anglers look forward to these fish swimming by the pier.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been catching smaller striped bass since the last blow. Soft plastics and bottom rigs are both producing bites from some of these resident fish.
Shad showed up this week for those fishing bottom rigs.
Skates are providing some of the tougher fighting action, and they’re feeding on both shrimp and cut mullet.
The water temperature is still a little low at 52 degrees. When it reaches 55 degrees, the puffers and bluefish should show up in good numbers.
Gavin Brothers (age 4), from South Mills, NC, shows off a 25″ striper he caught while trolling the Pasquotank River with his father, Josh. This is Brothers’ biggest striper to date.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that shad and puffers are being caught by anglers fishing bottom rigs tipped with shrimp.
A few small stripers are being landed on soft plastics.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has really picked up in the Rodanthe area beaches. Sea mullet and puffers are being caught in good numbers by anglers fishing shrimp in the deep sloughs along the beach.
Puppy drum have been in the same areas, and they’re feeding on Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Anglers at the Point have been catching a few citation-sized red drum.
Some chopper bluefish (up to 14 lbs.) were caught in the Rodanthe area before the last cold snap, and anglers look forward to warm weather pushing these fish back in.
Anglers on the Nags Head area beaches are reporting c some sea mullet, as the fish are working their way north.
Speckled trout have made a scattered showing in the surf around Duck and Avalon Pier.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that puffers and dogfish sharks are being caught in good numbers by anglers bottom fishing on the northern beaches.
Tailor bluefish have started to show, and both cut baits and casting jigs have gotten bites.
Based on reports from the Hatteras Island beaches, anglers anticipate seeing sea mullet and croakers on the northern area beaches any day.
Offshore trips are finding good-sized yellowfin tuna, and a few “smoker” king mackerel while trolling skirted baits.
Bluefin tuna are still being caught, though the bite isn’t consistent this late in the season.
With bait beginning to move into the inlets, anglers look forward to inshore head boat trips starting in a few weeks.
