Northern Beaches – March 2021
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing anglers are looking forward to water temperatures starting to swing in a positive direction. Frigid beach temperatures have the bite all but shut off, but going into March should see things start to come back to life.
Puppy drum will begin to be caught along the southern Hatteras beaches on cut baits and shrimp. Speckled trout that held over in the surf zone will be mixed in, but more action will be had in the sound.
Over-slot red drum could show up about the end of the month around the Point.
Bluefish start arriving in early spring, with most of the first action coming on bottom-rigged baits.
Offshore anglers are still landing a few giant bluefin tuna that continue to thrive in these cold waters. Going into March, many are looking ahead to yellowfin tuna showing up.
Rick S., from Virginia Beach, with a trout caught using a Z-Man paddletail and a 1/4 oz. Trout Eye jig head in the sound near Wanchese. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna continue to dominate recent action, with cold water hanging along the beaches. With the water not looking to change quickly, the bluefins should stick around through March.
Nearshore trips have been reporting spotty numbers of triggerfish and black sea bass.
Inshore anglers are catching speckled trout and red drum, and the surf zone has been producing dogfish sharks.
Going into the middle to end of March, yellowfin and blackfin tuna arrive in the area. Anglers hope that the cooler water temperatures may allow for a longer spring bite.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that large bluefin tuna offer most of the action, as colder water temperatures surround the area. This bite could last into deep March, but it’s also in the nature of these fish to disappear overnight.
Anglers are looking forward to more stable weather to bring wahoo and yellowfin tuna into the area by the end of March. Mahi tend to be right behind those two species, but they are the most temperature dependent of the three and this year may be late.
Inshore anglers will start seeing better numbers of speckled trout as bait moves inshore and pulls these trout out of their winter-time holes.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers jumping on offshore boats are still landing some large bluefin tuna, but they are now more looking forward to the spring yellowfin tuna bite.
Inshore trips are chasing speckled trout, drum, and striped bass in the creeks. The Northern Outer Banks provides only a few places for these cold-sensitive speckled trout to hold over. Targeting the creeks provides some action, as water temperatures may stay just a bit warmer over the mud and can hold some bait. These trout are extremely sluggish, and it takes super slow retrieves with MirrOlures, MirrOdines, and similar suspending lures to get a strike.
The red drum will also hit these slower-retrieved artificials and Carolina-rigged baits.
Going into March, anglers should expect to see cooler water temperatures for most of the month, so the suggestion will continue to be to fish baits slow.
Fishing Unlimited is closed for the winter and will reopen in spring.
Nags Head Pier is closed for the winter and will reopen in spring.
Jessica Dail with a striper caught near Bonner Bridge. She was fishing with Capt. Chris Crockett of ReelOBX Charters. Photo courtesy of TW’s Bait & Tackle.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that fishing has been very slow the past few weeks. Water temperatures up and down the beach have been in the low 40s, and when paired with all the rain, this has been a bad combination for anglers.
Hopefully, going into March anglers will start to catch pufferfish and sea mullet when water temperatures rise.
Jeff, of Albemarle Fishing Charters, reports that recent weather has local waters muddied, but the striped bass are still biting. Anglers are having success with Rat-L-Traps and soft plastic swimbaits on heavier 3/4 oz. jig heads. Color patterns that have blue backs paired with silver undersides have been best.
Going into March and early April, these schools start to push into mainland river mouths. Casting and trolling Rat-L-Traps and Husky jerk baits will be productive over ledges and structure.
Bob’s Bait and Tackle is closed for the winter and will reopen in spring.
