OBX/Northern Beaches – July 2024
Kyle, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching a nice mix of sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, and scattered red drum out along the northern beaches.
Anglers on the local piers are seeing good numbers of bluefish and a few runs on spanish mackerel.
Back in the sound, the speckled trout bite is excellent, and not only in numbers, but there are plenty of large fish being landed as well. Live bait and soft plastics are each having success.
Red drum are in the sound, though the bite has been pretty scattered.
Sheepshead fishing has been a consistent option for anglers.
Off the beach, trolling efforts are producing mostly bluefish and spanish mackerel, with a few cobia still hanging around.
Offshore trips are seeing good numbers of mahi showing up, and alongside the mahi are yellowfin tuna and the occasional wahoo. Some really good billfish action is mixed in as well.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that the inshore red drum bite is finally starting to come alive. Anglers are having a lot of success with topwater plugs and No Live Bait Needed swimbaits rigged on jig heads.
Speckled trout action remains excellent in the area, with larger fish being caught on live croakers.
Some cobia are still around, and they’re cooperating for anglers rigged with fly setups or bucktails.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that those on the northern beaches and piers are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish.
The local piers have seen several tarpon hooked.
Puppy drum, yearling drum, sea mullet, spot, pompano, and sheepshead round out the rest of the surf action.
Little Bridge anglers have been catching croakers and black drum.
On the Bonner Bridge, the bite has included sheepshead, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and yearling drum.
Ben Cloninger, of Southport, helped catch these mahi and blackfin tuna while fishing out of Oregon Inlet using chuggers and squid bars.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that soundside anglers have been seeing some excellent speckled trout fishing. Both numbers and quality have been great when drifting the grass flats and casting soft plastics under popping corks. Topwater plugs are also having plenty of success, though early mornings are key in the topwater bite. Look for depth changes and little potholes on these flats. Spots with even a foot or two of relief will be the main areas to target for the trout.
Surf fishing has been picking up on the northern beaches. There have been all the sea mullet and croakers you can catch, with citation-class mullet in the mix. Sand fleas on the typical bottom rig with 2 oz. pyramid weights will be all that’s needed.
Spanish mackerel are at times within casting range of the beach, but pier anglers are having much more spanish success than the surf anglers.
The spanish are also around in good numbers for those trolling, and they can mostly be found right outside the inlet.
Further offshore, anglers are having some good trips catching dolphin and tuna. Starting at the 300’+ depths, there are good numbers of dolphin, even though they are mostly smaller.
Tuna are also in this 300’ range and further out (300-1000’), but sharks have been a real problem in getting fish to the boat.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that there’s been a pretty good bite on yellowfin and bigeye tuna in the area. It’s not a major mass of fish in any one spot, but every day has the potential to be a successful one if you can avoid all the sharks.
Mahi are starting to sweep up the coast. Numbers haven’t quite made the jump up, but local anglers should see increased activity and numbers at any time.
There hasn’t been a ton of billfish; however, there’s action just south of the Point, so anytime now the bite could turn on.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that mahi have finally decided to show up a bit more as the weather and water continue to heat up. The offshore fleet is also catching a variety of yellowfin, blackfin, and bigeye tuna.
The occasional wahoo is still mixed in, with blue marlin and sailfish releases to round out the action.
The nearshore anglers have kept busy catching plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish out along the beaches. The spanish and blues are alongside scattered false albacore.
Inshore, the area is seeing great speckled trout action and scattered red drum.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that on some days boats in the offshore fleet are returning to the docks early with boxes already full from anglers getting their limits. Yellowfin tuna, mahi, black sea bass, and tilefish have made up most of the catches.
Nearshore anglers saw a good mix of false albacore, spanish mackerel, and a bunch of bluefish, and the occasional cobia is still around.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are catching a bunch of sea mullet and some speckled trout.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also in the daily catches, and they’re mostly hitting metal jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Kenny, of Avalon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing croakers, spot, and some sea mullet. A few red drum are also scattered in the action.
Gotcha plugs has produced strikes from spanish mackerel and bluefish.
The occasional speckled trout is also in the mix, and this trout action is mostly coming in the early and late hours.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing from the surf has produced croakers, sea mullet, spot, scattered drum, and a few flounder.
Keeping a casting jig handy has been helpful for when bluefish and spanish mackerel move into range.
Those running in the sound have seen excellent speckled trout action, with red drum mixed in.
Nearshore efforts are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
