Northern Beaches – August 2022
Madison, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that fishing with fresh shrimp or sand fleas from the surf has been producing a variety of sea mullet, puppy drum, and a few pompano. Schools of bluefish have also been moving onto the northern beaches for anglers casting metal jigs, and fresh cut baits have been hooking some smaller sharks.
Anglers fishing the local piers are having success targeting bottom fish, with catches of sea mullet, spot, smaller bluefish, and sheepshead.
The Bonner Bridge pier has been seeing large sheepshead, black drum, and some flounder.
Soundside fishing has been generating good numbers of puppy drum for anglers working the flats, as there have been a few large schools of red drum moving around.
There are still quite a few speckled trout mixed in this action, and they’re primarily feeding on live baits.
On offshore trips, some boats are returning with limits of tuna, while others are finding great fishing for dolphin. There are also some large wahoo mixed in the trolling action.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing large amberjacks, triggerfish, and tilefish
Kevin Migliore, of Lehigh Valley, PA, caught (and released) this red drum on squid while fishing the surf in Nags Head.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that summertime speckled trout action has been awesome. Plenty of large trout are being caught with a variety of topwater plugs, live baits, and soft plastics under popping corks. Targeting the flats inside the inlet is the top method for success.
Both puppy drum and over-slot drum are being caught by anglers sight-casting the shallow shoals both inside and outside of the inlet. Cut bait fished just before dark has been the top producer.
Nearshore sight casting action is around for boats cruising just off the beach. Both cobia and schools of big drum are still available, with anglers having success fishing bucktail jigs and live spot.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that fishing in the sounds remains strong, with quite a few larger speckled trout feeding on live baits. Anglers are also having plenty of success catching red drum by fishing cut baits up on the flats near the inlet.
Fishing nearshore structures from the beach out to 3+ miles has worked for black sea bass, triggerfish, amberjack, and a few mahi that moved in close.
Targeting the pilings around Oregon Inlet Bridge has been producing some large sheepshead.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that soundside fishing has been “on fire,” with anglers catching good numbers of puppy drum and citation class trout on the flats.
Sheepshead are staged up around bridge pilings at the inlet and all the way up to Pirate’s Cove.
Anglers down at the Bonner Bridge pier have been catching sheepshead, black sea bass, croakers, and black drum.
Fishing the little bridge in Nags Head has produced spot, croaker, smaller speckled trout, and a few spadefish.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that there has been a lot of really good tuna fishing. Quite a few boats are returning with both limits of yellowfin tuna and scattered blackfin.
Strong numbers of mahi are also around, with plenty of gaffer-sized fish in the mix.
Billfishing has really picked up, with releases of white marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish.
Bottom fishing produced some tilefish, and nearshore trips have included a wide variety of species including triggerfish, ribbonfish, black sea bass, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and bonita.
Inshore, both large speckled trout and good numbers of puppy drum are being landed.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore trips have been returning with plenty of release flags. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are all included in the action.
There have been a number of yellowfin tuna returning to the dock. Scattered blackfin and a few large wahoo (to 80 lbs.) are also included in the trolling action.
Mahi fishing continues to be strong, though some days are better than others.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing good numbers of tilefish, and nearshore trips are seeing quite the mixed bag of species with ribbonfish, black sea bass, false albacore, spanish mackerel, and some citation-class red drum around.
Anglers fishing around the inlet and further inshore are finding some excellent speckled trout fishing.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing most of the recent action. Anglers are catching a few sea mullet, croakers, spot, and scattered flounder.
As water conditions stabilize, many anticipate seeing more schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish around.
Greg Kirk hooked this 4.5 lb. spanish mackerel on a hot pink Gotcha plug from the end of Jennette’s Pier.
Cindy, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers sticking it out through the hot July conditions have been catching mixed bags of bottom fish species and some nice-sized bluefish.
Neil, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing the surf have had the most success while bottom fishing. A mixed bag of croakers, sea mullet, spot, and the occasional pompano are all included in the action.
Schools of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are occasionally moving within casting distance of anglers rigged with spoons and glass minnow jigs.
Nearshore anglers have been catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel, with a few cobia mixed in the action.
Jeff, of Albemarle Fishing Charters, reports that there have been a lot of slot-sized red drum moved up into the sound. Anglers have had the most success fishing smaller spinnerbaits, such as local favorite Uncle Jesse’s lures rigged with a fresh shrimp.
These baits fished slowly along the bottom are also producing some nice flounder bites.
