Northern Beaches – September 2022
Riley, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing on the local piers have started to see better runs of spanish mackerel and bluefish, especially with water temperatures warming up and clearing after some seasonal wind switches.
Surf anglers have been mostly landing mixed bags of smaller bottom fish species.
Inshore anglers have seen a great speckled trout bite, with large fish (to 30”) in the mix.
Red drum fishing has also been very strong. Anglers are having the most success targeting flats around the inlet.
Offshore trips have been catching mostly tuna and some scattered wahoo, and each day there seems to be a handful of billfish release flags flying at the local marinas.
There are still plenty of dolphin around, with most anglers finding action out at the offshore areas almost straight out of the inlet.
Windy Overgaard hooked this 44″ red drum on finger mullet while bottom fishing off of Minnesott Beach.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that the region continues to see steady red drum and speckled trout action.
Anglers targeting trout are having success casting both topwater plugs and live baits on inshore flats.
Puppy drum and some mixed over-slot reds are feeding well when anglers find calmer wind conditions to sight-cast at schools running in the shallows. The key to entice a strike has been to target the flats during times of moving tide with topwater plugs, gold spoons, and popping cork setups.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that weather pattern changes really helped anglers see some good fishing and a break from the summertime heat.
Speckled trout action has been solid for anglers fishing both early and late in the day. Topwater plugs have been a great search bait for fishing over grass or deeper potholes, with live baits rigged under a popping cork also having plenty of success.
There has been a good red drum bite for anglers casting gold spoons while drifting the inshore flats. Some fish are being caught with Carolina-rigged baits in these same areas.
A few schools of over-slot drum have been hanging around the inlet, and these bigger drum are being hooked on Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Outside the inlet, anglers are finding decent numbers of spanish mackerel. Casting Stingsilvers and similar spoons have enticed a few strikes.
Some smaller kings (to 10 lbs.) are around, with most of the action being found to the south.
Anglers have had a lot of success bottom fishing at nearshore wrecks (in the 100’ depth range). Plenty of triggerfish and vermilion snapper are being caught with fresh shrimp or squid.
Mahi are still being caught nearshore, with most fish being found under floating debris.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that fishing on the local piers has started to pick up with spanish mackerel, bluefish, spot, smaller croakers, and sheepshead.
Little Bridge anglers have had a lot of success bottom fishing, with catches that include nice-sized croaker and spot.
Surf anglers on the northern beaches have mostly been catching a variety of bottom fish. Heading down to the northern areas of Hatteras Island, anglers have also been able to add pompano, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.
Inshore anglers have been catching puppy drum and speckled trout inside the inlet.
Offshore anglers are hooking tuna, mahi, wahoo, and scattered billfish.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that mahi have started to show back up in better numbers, and there is still plenty of tuna action, with both yellowfin and a few blackfin showing up in fish boxes.
Wahoo have begun to make a showing as we move closer to fall, and boats are also coming in daily with a few billfish release flags flying.
Nearshore anglers have seen action picking up, with catches of ribbonfish, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some false albacore. There are scattered schools of over-slot red drum being found off the beach, too.
Inshore trips have been landing nice-sized speckled trout, plenty of puppy drum, and bluefish.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the recent Alice Kelly women’s tournament saw anglers come in with plenty of billfish release flags (40+ in a one-day tournament).
There are still good numbers of mahi off the beach, along with scattered yellowfin and blackfin tuna. Some nice-sized wahoo have also started to show up.
Nearshore trips have found some good spanish mackerel action, as well as false albacore and moonfish.
Jim, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing has made up most of the recent action. Anglers are catching sea mullet, flounder, and plenty of croakers.
Cindy, of Avalon Pier, reports that fishing has been pretty slow. Most daily counts include small spanish mackerel and a few spots.
Brennan Smith, of Hampstead, caught this 51 lb. yellowfin tuna on a yellow and green Sea Witch. He was fishing out of Oregon Inlet on the Gotchu Knotchu.
Neil, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been doing well while bottom fishing. Spot, croakers, sea mullet, and bluefish have all been coming in from the sand.
Sound fishing has been really good, too, with nice-sized speckled trout and plenty of red drum being found on flats around the inlet.
Nearshore trips have been catching good numbers of spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, and bluefish.
Jeff, of Albemarle Fishing Charters, reports that there has been good salinity well up into the sounds with such little rainfall this summer. Subsequently, red drum have been pretty consistent, alongside a good class of flounder (to 15”+).
Anglers are also starting to target catch-and-release striped bass as the stripers are becoming more active with water temperatures slowly starting to fall.
