Northern Beaches – May 23, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that on the northern Nags Head area beaches, bluefish are biting in good numbers for anglers casting spoons to feeding schools. Sea mullet are feeding on shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
Speckled trout are being caught in the early mornings around Kill Devil Hills.
Black drum have been scattered from Corolla to Hatteras, and most fish are biting shrimp.
The little bridge in Manteo has been producing good-sized speckled trout and some assorted bottom fish.
Nearshore anglers are finding plenty of cobia in the area.
Spanish mackerel are being caught in good numbers by trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and casting glass minnow jigs to feeding schools.
Anglers bottom fishing with cut baits are catching tilefish and black sea bass.
Mahi has been the main focus of offshore anglers, with plenty of gaffer-sized fish around.
Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are mixed in with the larger mahi, and trolling ballyhoo with Sea Witch skirts and Iland lures has been productive.
A few large bigeye tuna (to 100 lbs.) have been reported.
Billfish are beginning to move into the area, with white marlin and a few sailfish being released.
Grouper fishing has been good for anglers targeting the wrecks and ledges offshore.
Bert McCrory with a false albacore caught on a metal lure while surf fishing near Buxton.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are landing great numbers of mahi, with most being larger gaffer-sized fish.
A few blackfin tuna have been mixed in the counts.
Yellowfin tuna (to 55 lbs.) are being caught on skirted ballyhoo, and a few large bigeye tuna (to 132 lbs.) are coming back to the docks.
White marlin and sailfish have been reported in the spreads, with a few fish released.
Nearshore anglers have been catching good numbers of cobia while sight-casting around bait schools and turtles.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are schooled up just outside of the breakers.
Sound anglers are landing cobia and speckled trout.
The head boat has been catching pigfish, flounder, puffers, and bluefish while bottom fishing in the inlet.
Ashley Dixon and Carl Jacbosen caught these two bull red drums on Hard Head custom skirts while fishing out of Oregon Inlet in 40′ of water. They were fishing with Capt. Wes Pollard, of Knot Today Fishing Charters.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that cobia have been around in good numbers off the beach. Anglers are sight-casting Meathog bucktails to fish cruising around bait pods and turtles.
Puppy drum are staged up on the flats around the inlet. Cut baits and soft plastics are producing most of the drum.
Speckled trout are around oyster beds and in the deeper holes.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers have been catching legal-sized speckled trout on Gulp and Bass Assassin soft plastics. The trout are being caught throughout the day, but morning and evening have been a bit more productive.
A few black drum are hitting shrimp fished on a bottom rig.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that yellowfin and blackfin tuna have been hitting skirted baits out around breaks in the Gulf Stream.
Some bigeye tuna are mixed in, and large wahoo (to 65 lbs.) are being caught off planer rods.
Anglers have been enjoying the great mahi bite, with many trips finding double-digit numbers of fish. A majority of the mahi have been gaffer-sized, with a few bulls (to 65 lbs.) mixed in.
A couple white marlin are being released.
Nearshore trips have been catching spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons and casting jigs.
Bottom fishing cut baits is producing black sea bass and tilefish.
Sight-casting anglers are hooking cobia and citation black drum with large bucktail jigs.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bluefish are biting in good numbers while casting Gotcha plugs.
Spanish mackerel are mixed in with the bluefish, and they’re striking spoons and jigs.
Sea mullet have been feeding on shrimp and Fishbites strips on bottom rigs.
A few puppy drum are being landed on Carolina-rigged cut baits, and speckled trout are hitting soft plastics fished closer to the breakers.
Laurie, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that good numbers of sea mullet are feeding on shrimp and Fishbites strips on bottom rigs.
Scattered spot, croaker, puffers, and pinfish are mixed in for anglers keeping baits on the bottom.
Speckled trout are being caught on soft plastics fished closer to the beach.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are running from halfway down the pier to the end. Most are being caught on Gotcha plugs and casting jigs, but the blues are also hitting Carolina-rigged cut bait.
A few cobia (to 30”) have been caught near the end, and anglers hope to see the numbers rise in the next few weeks.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers are landing large sea mullet while fishing bottom rigs.
Some good-sized speckled trout are being caught on bottom rigs and while fishing soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs cast toward feeding schools.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that good-sized bluefish are being caught on the Duck area beaches.
Large sea mullet are hitting shrimp and sand fleas fished on bottom rigs.
Nearshore anglers are sight fishing for cobia that pushed into the area. Casting bucktails around bait pods and turtles has brought anglers some success.
Trolling from the breakers out to three miles is producing bluefish and bonito.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are finding citation-sized sea mullet while fishing shrimp and Fishbites strips on a bottom rig.
A few puppy drum are hitting cut fresh mullet on a Carolina rig.
Bluefish are also feeding on cut baits, as well as hitting casting jigs when the fish are feeding on the surface.
Offshore, good numbers of gaffer-sized dolphin are feeding on trolled naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Large cobia (to 60 lbs.) are cruising nearshore areas around bait pods.
