Northern Beaches – October 2022
Madison, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there have been a bunch of good-sized red drum being caught by anglers fishing the surf with fresh cut baits.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are starting to move within casting distance of anglers rigged with casting jigs, and bottom fishing has been producing nice-sized mullet, pompano (to 2+ lbs.), and croakers.
The local piers are catching many of these same surf species, with additional false albacore, ribbonfish, and nice runs of the citation class red drum.
Soundside anglers have been finding red drum of all sizes while fishing the flats and ledges around the inlet. Flounder and scattered speckled trout are mixed in these same areas.
The deeper channels and out into the inlet are holding schools of bluefish.
Offshore anglers are starting to see the wahoo action picking up. Mixed in the trolling bite are mahi, a handful of tuna, and decent numbers of billfish releases.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing some great speckled trout and red drum action back on the inshore flats. The reds have been actively striking at topwater plugs, Johnson spoons, and popping corks rigged with Z-Man soft plastics.
Speckled trout are mostly being caught with some of the same setups, mostly topwater plugs and popping corks. Anglers looking for the topwater blow-ups have had a lot of success with Zara Super Spook Jrs. in the bone color.
The citation class red drum started moving off the beaches and piers. Fresh cut baits from local shops have been key in getting these big strikes.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that inshore red drum action has picked up a lot, with a good mix of puppy and yearling-sized fish moving on flats around the inlets.
The citation class reds are being caught by fishing deeper holes in the inlet, as anglers off local piers also get a chance at these schools as they migrate through the area.
Anglers working topwater plugs early in the morning are catching a few bonus speckled trout around creeks and potholes near the inlet.
There are flounder inshore, but most of the better-sized fish have been holding around nearshore structure.
Schools of bluefish are staged up around the inlet for anglers looking to sight-cast metals.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that red drum fishing has been spectacular, as both pier anglers and some surf anglers have hooked up to multiple “old” red drum.
Bottom fishing with fresh cut baits continues to produce puppy and yearling class fish along the beaches, as well as spot, sea mullet, flounder, and scattered pompano.
Casting action (in particular from the piers) has been really good for larger bluefish, spanish mackerel, and mixed false albacore.
Anglers fishing in the sound are finding a strong red drum bite and the speckled trout action starting to pick up.
Running offshore has been producing wahoo, scattered mahi, and a variety of billfish.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that trips have shown up some days with good numbers of mahi, as the bite is there but pushed out further moving into fall.
Blackfin tuna and wahoo are a big part of the offshore trolling action, and each day the fleet sails, there are a handful of release flags flying from the day’s billfish catches.
Nearshore trips are seeing false albacore, spanish mackerel, flounder, black sea bass, and croakers.
Soundside fishing has been producing speckled trout, bluefish, black drum, and plenty of puppy drum action.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that billfish action has been pretty good, with anglers releasing white marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish.
Some trips are still finding good groups of mahi, and tuna fishing remains steady, too, with catches of nice-sized blackfin and scattered yellowfin.
Good-sized wahoo (to 57 lbs.) are also mixed in the trolling action.
Nearshore trips are catching flounder, spanish mackerel, and false albacore.
Jim, of Nags Head Pier, reports that a couple of days have already seen a run of the trophy-sized red drum push through.
Bottom fishing has been generally slow, as waters start to clean back up after storms moved by offshore.
Cindy, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers out doing some sight-casting are having a lot of success with both bluefish and spanish mackerel.
A few nice flounder are also being caught, and bottom fishing is producing scattered jacks, pompano, and pinfish.
There are also some sharks around.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been finding lots of red drum action as we move into fall. Most of the action is on slot-sized and just over-slot reds, with a few large (to 40”) fish mixed in.
Bottom fishing has been producing keeper pompano and some sea mullet, and getting on the sand both early and late has given anglers the opportunity to cast at schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish pushed in close.
Inshore anglers have been seeing speckled trout action start to pick up and are catching a few big red drum.
Getting just outside the inlet is producing good numbers of spanish mackerel and scattered small kings.
Offshore anglers are reporting blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, scattered wahoo, and white marlin.
Jeff, of Albemarle Fishing Charters, reports that fishing has been really good on the Albemarle Sound and its tributaries. Anglers have been catching some good-sized flounder, and most of these flatfish (to 20”+) are staged up on sandy bottoms near manmade or natural structures along the shoreline.
Some red drum and scattered black drum are being found in these same areas.
Anglers look forward to a striped bass keeper season to start targeting these structure-oriented schools as water temperatures cool in coming months.
