Added on Friday, September 1, 2023  Fish Post

Northern Beaches – September 2023

Kyle, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are still seeing quite the mixed bag of action going into the end of summer. Bottom fishing is producing spot, croakers, sea mullet, and flounder. 

Smaller schools of Spanish mackerel and bluefish are moving within casting distance of surf anglers rigged with metal lures. 

The local piers have landed some king mackerel and a cobia here or there. 

The Soundside Anglers are catching pretty good numbers of speckled trout (considering the heat). 

Red drum action is steady, especially on the flats closer to the inlet. 

Some nice-sized sheepshead are being hooked around the bridges.

Sound anglers are catching a few trophy-class red drum as that migration begins. 

Those headed offshore have seen a good push of blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi, and a bunch of sailfish.

 

Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers have been having success plugging away Soundside for catches of speckled trout and slot-sized red drum. Most of the trout action has come from soft plastic paddle tail baits or live croakers under floats. 

Slot-sized red drum are striking at gold spoons or popping cork setups. When the wind is howling or the tide is running, anglers can have success switching over to cut baits.

The trophy red drum have started showing up. These schools have been dancing between the outside shoals around Oregon Inlet and into the sandbars just inside. When the right conditions come together, action from these schools can be found by casting larger bucktails and soft plastics. If it’s cloudy and the current isn’t cooperating, anglers can also entice a strike by fishing larger, fresh cut baits. 

Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that Little Bridge anglers have been catching a mixed bag of black drum, croakers, spot, and pinfish. 

A few trout are also being caught, with most of that bite being focused around dawn and late afternoon when conditions are slightly cooler.

Surf and pier anglers on Nags Head beaches are catching spot, croakers, and scattered Spanish mackerel.

The pier anglers have started to see a few kings showing up while baiting off the end.

 

John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that anglers running off the beach are still finding some Spanish mackerel while trolling. Some nice-sized king mackerel have moved in close, too, so it’s a good idea to have a bigger setup out in the spread.

Keep an eye out for false albacore while trolling. This bite is still in its early stages and only gets better moving through September and into October. 

Some over-slot red drum are being caught around the inlets, and tons of bluefish are around the inlets as well.

Flounder have been all over the place this summer. Anglers targeting them when the season opens should have a lot of success with Carolina-rigged live baits in a variety of locations. 

 

Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that anglers running offshore have found great sailfish action. Some boats are seeing as many as 12-15 strikes on trips.

Mahi fishing remains strong when finding schools under eel grass or floating debris. 

Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore boats have been on a hot billfish bite. Boats are flying good numbers of sailfish release flags, with a handful of blue marlin releases in the mix as well.

There have been plenty of days with really good numbers of dolphin.

The tuna species have made a modest showing, with both blackfins and some yellowfins in the mix.

Wahoo and barracuda round out the action that the trollers are finding.

Nearshore casting anglers have hooked a bunch of citation-class red drum off the beach.

Nearshore trolling efforts are producing a mixed catch of king mackerel, ribbonfish, Spanish mackerel, and false albacore. Bluefish and sharks are also mixed in the nearshore action.

 

Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the billfish action (sailfish and blue marlin) has been pretty good.

Though spotty at times, there are boats arriving back at the docks with good numbers of mahi, and tuna (both yellowfin and blackfin) started making a showing.

Bottom fishing is producing some tasty tilefish.

Nearshore trips have been catching red drum, false albacore, Spanish mackerel, and ribbonfish.

 

Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing remains the top bite, with catches of whiting, spot, and croaker. 

Some nice bluefish are mixed in the action, too.

 

Cindy, of Avalon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has provided most of the action for anglers. Shrimp and artificial bait strips are enticing croakers, spot, and bluefish.

Gotcha plugs and casting spoons are producing Spanish mackerel and bluefish.

 

John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing action from the surf has been good, producing a bunch of spot, croakers, and whiting. 

A bunch of flounder are being caught, which should be great for when the keeper season opens in mid-September. 

Scattered red drum and bluefish round out the surf fishing action.

Soundside anglers around the inlet have started seeing some of the citation-class reds showing up.