Northern Beaches – May 9, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers at the Point are catching citation-sized drum on large cut baits after dark. A few “chopper” bluefish (to 35”) have hit the same cut baits. In addition, the first reported cobia from the surf just came from the Cape Point.
Large speckled trout (to 9 lbs.) are biting well on Kill Devil Hills area beaches. Anglers have had success while casting soft plastic paddletail baits on 1/4 oz. jig heads into the deeper holes early in the morning.
Medium-sized bluefish (2-3 lbs.) are being caught around Duck and Southern Shores with cut bait on bottom rigs.
Sound-side anglers are finding speckled trout and bluefish in deeper channels with soft plastics, and striped bass are being caught around the bridges with bucktails. Puppy drum have pushed into the inlets and are staging on mud flats around the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
Cobia showed up in nearshore areas on the first day of the season, and anglers are catching them while sight-casting larger, 2 oz. bucktails with 6” soft plastic trailers.
A few schools of large 40” black drum are also cruising off the beaches, and they are willing to hit the same bucktails.
Bluefish, false albacore, and spanish mackerel are feeding on bait schools, and anglers are having success while casting glass minnow jigs through the frenzied fish.
Offshore boats are reporting good numbers of yellowfin tuna and a few large bigeye tuna (to 100 lbs.) being caught out in the Gulf Stream.
Wahoo (to 52 lbs.) are also being caught in decent numbers, with most anglers finding success on the planer rod.
Dolphin fishing has picked up, with boats producing double-digit numbers of fish while working weed lines.
Jacob Kimmel, of Richmond, VA, holds up a 23″, 4 lb. trout he caught on a Gotcha plug. He was fishing the surf near the Outer Banks Fishing Pier.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that larger yellowfin tuna (to 70 lbs.) are being caught in good numbers, and many trips are returning with double-digit numbers of fish.
A few larger bigeye tuna (to 105 lbs.) are mixed in with the yellowfins.
Anglers are turning in citations for large blackfin tuna (to 25 lbs.).
Wahoo are scattered in the counts, with most fish being caught deeper on the planer rod.
Mahi have made a good showing to start the spring run. Anglers anticipate seeing this bite only get better in the coming weeks.
Sailfish are in the area, and they will hit skirted ballyhoo.
Nearshore trips are finding large numbers of bluefish, with a few trips catching triple-digit numbers while both trolling and casting jigs on feeding schools.
Cobia are being hooked by anglers sight-casting large bucktails around schools of menhaden in the area.
The inlet head boat has been finding strong numbers of sea mullet, as well as flounder, pigfish, and pinfish while bottom fishing.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that cobia have moved into the area, and sight-casting bucktails to cruising fish is a high action way to land these fish.
Schools of large black drum are also being reported in the area. These over-slot fish are hitting the same bucktail jigs presented with soft plastic trailers.
Speckled trout continue to feed well inside the inlet, with anglers focusing around oyster beds and deeper holes along grass banks.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that anglers are catching double-digit numbers of yellowfin tuna on skirted ballyhoo.
A few larger wahoo are also hitting ballyhoo fished on top or behind a planer.
Mahi are showing in double-digit numbers on the daily counts.
Nearshore anglers are sight-casting jigs to cobia and large black drum in the area.
A few schools of over-slot red drum are off the beaches, and they will hit the same bucktails.
Casting smaller, glass minnow jigs has produced spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bluefish are being caught on casting jigs and Gotcha plugs.
A few smaller flounder can be found closer into the breakers.
Speckled trout are in the area, and anglers can target them with soft plastics.
Laurie, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishing with shrimp has been producing good numbers of sea mullet, puffers, croaker, and spot.
Speckled trout and flounder (to 13”) are being caught on soft plastics worked in deeper holes closer to the beach.
Towards the end of the pier, anglers are rigged with glass minnow jigs and Gotcha plugs for schools of bluefish and false albacore pushing past the pier.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers are catching large speckled trout (to 6 lbs.) while fishing soft plastics closer to the beach.
Casting Gotcha plugs at feeding schools of bluefish has been extremely successful, with some anglers bringing home their limits.
Bottom fishing with shrimp is producing sea mullet.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that Duck area anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish as they feed in the surf zone. With water temperatures rising, Casting jigs and spoons has been the most productive method.
Speckled trout are biting in the deeper sloughs around Kill Devils Hills. Anglers are targeting them early in the morning with soft plastics.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are having a lot of success with bottom rigs. Puppy drum, sea mullet, and spot are all feeding on baits fished in deeper holes off the beach.
Bluefish are working their way into the area, and casting jigs and spoons towards feeding schools is getting bites.
Nearshore anglers are beginning to target cobia as they follow bait schools into the area.
Schools of large black drum are just off the beach, and sight-casting works great when targeting them.
Schools of large false albacore (to 10 lbs.) and bluefish are feeding on smaller baits and can be caught using glass minnow jigs.
Offshore anglers are landing some large yellowfin tuna (to 50 lbs.) and mahi on skirted ballyhoo.
