OBX/Northern Beaches – August 2024
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been doing best while bottom fishing, with catches of puppy drum, bluefish, and scattered sea mullet.
Anglers getting out on the local piers have found the same species as surf anglers, as well as spanish mackerel and ribbonfish.
Back in the sounds, anglers are catching a handful of puppy drum and some keeper speckled trout.
Larger hard structures, such as bridge pilings, have been producing sheepshead.
Anglers that get offshore are catching yellowfin tuna, some mahi, white marlin, and blue marlin.
Nearshore, amberjacks are out around the tower.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been really good for anglers set up with live croakers. The best action has been back in the sound. Trout anglers are also seeing periods where topwater plugs are getting reactions when fishing the shallows.
Puppy drum are up on the flats, and they’re mostly being caught with Carolina-rigged cut mullet or shrimp.
Outside the inlet, there’s been a great big red drum bite (including citation fish). Anglers are having a lot of success sight casting to these big schools with bucktails.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers fishing on the Little Bridge have found the recent speckled trout bite slowing down a bit as the area hits mid-summer. Bottom fishing remains good, though, with bluefish, spot, and some croakers being caught.
Anglers fishing the Pirates Cove bridge are catching speckled trout and some puppy drum.
Both the surf and pier fishing action has been improving a little bit now that cleaner water is starting to become more common. The beachfront is seeing most of the standard summertime variety, including spot, sea mullet, croakers, bluefish, sheepshead, spanish mackerel, and a few puppy drum.
Down at the Bonner Bridge, anglers are catching sheepshead and a few red drum.
Susan Comstock, of Aberdeen, NC, found this 26 15/16″ red drum while fishing in the Neuse River using a topwater plug. She was fishing with Capt. D. Ashley King of Keep Castin’ Charters.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that there has been some fantastic sight casting action to schools of big red drum just off the beach. These schools usually hang out in the area until about mid-August when they push inside and head into the sound and big rivers. When the Neuse and Pamlico big red drum bite gets hot, the action outside the inlet typically slows.
The speckled trout fishing is good and has been good all summer, with fish currently being caught on topwater plugs in the early mornings and then switching over to soft plastics under popping corks for the rest of the day.
A bunch of spanish mackerel are around (mostly outside the inlet), with catches of ribbonfish also showing up in the trolling bite.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that offshore trips are seeing decent yellowfin tuna action, as well as some big eye tuna, in their normal spots for summertime. These typical spots are in areas 30-35 miles east or southeast of the inlet.
Mahi are around, but the abundance varies day-to-day.
Those offshore trolling are seeing a few billfish in the mix, including blue marlin and sailfish.
Water temperatures have been warming up, so flying fish patterns and lighter colors such as blue/white or purple/white have been producing well. Also, don’t ever rule out a naked ballyhoo in the spread.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore trips have been catching good numbers of mahi, yellowfin tuna, and the occasional bigeye tuna.
Billfish action has been steady, with catches of blue marlin and sailfish.
Inshore, the speckled trout fishing continues to be great in both quality and numbers. Some puppy drum are also in the mix.
Nearshore trolling trips are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish, and those who wish to sight cast are finding schools of big red drum outside the inlet.
Andrea Kozel, of Winchester, VA, found this bull red drum out of Oregon Inlet sight casting a Meat Hog jig. She was fishing with Capt. Aaron Kelly of Rock Solid Fishing.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that anglers getting offshore have been catching yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, and good numbers of mahi (on some days).
Nearshore trolling trips have been finding a bunch of ribbonfish, spanish mackerel, false albacore, and bluefish.
Anglers have also been enjoying some great sight casting action to schools of big red drum outside the inlet.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers have been catching croakers, spot, and some sea mullet. These smaller summer species will likely remain the main targets throughout August. Hopefully, the spanish mackerel will cooperate, too (if water conditions clean up).
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that both air and water temperatures are hot. Subsequently, bottom fishing has been the best option, with catches of spot and croaker.
Paul, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching a variety of spot, croaker, sea mullet, and a few puppy drum.
Plenty of flounder are being caught and released.
On some days, anglers casting jigs from the beach have had the opportunity to hook into spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Anglers fishing in the sound around the inlet have been finding plenty of speckled trout.
A bunch of big red drum are being caught nearshore by anglers sight casting bucktails.
Trolling off the beaches is producing a bunch of ribbonfish, bluefish, and spanish mackerel.
Anglers getting offshore have been getting into good numbers of dolphin, yellowfin tuna, scattered bigeye tuna, and plenty of billfish.
