Northern Beaches March 10, 2011
Keith Angel with the new NC State Record striped bass, a 64 lb. fish he caught just a few days after 12 year-old Stephen Furlough established a new state record with a 63 pounder. Angel hooked the huge bass along with a smaller 15 lb. fish on a parachute rig while trolling off Oregon Inlet with Capt. Devin Cage on the "Poacher." Photo courtesy of TW's Bait and Tackle.
Nathan, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the bluefin tuna fishing off the Outer Banks is in full swing. Anglers fishing out of Oregon and Hatteras Inlets have been finding the fish between the Point and the Rocks. They’re hooking good numbers while trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures and dropping vertical jigs to fish that they mark on the sounder. The action should continue until April, and anglers can expect to see increasing numbers of yellowfin tuna in the mix as warmer water moves into the area over the next month.
Closer to the beaches, the tremendous striper fishing that anglers saw over the winter seems to be coming to a close, but anglers may still have time to catch a few before the fish move north. Trolling parachute rigs and diving plugs or working jigs and other lures in the feeding schools of fish will draw bites from the stripers.
Surf fishermen haven’t had a lot to chase over the winter, but with rising water temperatures, the first black drum, whiting, and pufferfish of the year aren’t too far off.
Inshore, the striper action is getting hot in the North and Alligator rivers, where anglers are hooking good numbers of school fish on bucktails, Rat-L-Traps, and Gulp baits.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the bluefin tuna fishing offshore of the area is excellent right now. Anglers are hooking big numbers of 65-75” tunas while trolling skirted ballyhoo and dropping metal jigs to schools of fish marking on the depthfinder. A few blackfin tuna are mixed in, and anglers can expect the action to continue through April, with increasing numbers of yellowfins as winter turns to spring.
The striped bass run is winding down, but anglers may still have a few shots at the fish before they make their way to Virginia and north.
Capt. Raymond Pugh, of Fin-Nagle Charters, with a healthy striped bass that angler Marc Kerns landed after it bit a Tournament Grade Tackle Bunker Spoon off of Oregon Inlet.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the winter’s wild striper action is pretty much over as the water warms up and the fish move north.
Fortunately, red-hot bluefin tuna fishing has replaced the striper bite, and boats are hooking solid numbers of the big tunas while fishing offshore between Rodanthe and the inlet. Both trolling and jigging have been producing action with the bluefins lately, with slightly better results for the trollers.
As March wears on, the bluefin tuna fishing will remain consistent and anglers can expect to see more yellowfins in the warmer water further offshore.
Donnie, of D.O.A. Charters, reports that the striped bass fishing off Oregon Inlet has been on fire for most of the New Year, with the best bite in at least five years. Anglers had several 100+ fish days while trolling and jigging large soft plastics for bass feeding under birds within 3 miles of the northern beaches. The fish have begun moving north, though, and the season is likely over.
Anglers looking for some inshore fishing over the next month or so will likely find better action towards Hatteras and Ocracoke, where water temperatures will be warmer than on the northern beaches.
