North Beaches September 1, 2011
Jean Marc Berruet (age 13), of Kitty Hawk, NC, with a cobia he landed on Jennette's Pier. Photo courtesy of Mike Preziotti.
Nick, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the impact of Hurricane Irene was felt throughout the area, but the worst effects were soundside flooding as the storm began moving away from the area.
All the Nags Head area piers made it through the storm intact, and the beaches haven’t taken too hard a hit. Anglers can drive on the beach for around 2.5 miles south of ramp 2 at present, as Oregon Inlet has a new passage that cuts off access to the spit at the inlet proper.
The water is still a little dirty, but anglers have found some action since the storm, and it should be getting better by the day. Surf and pier fishermen are connecting with some bluefish, spot, and croaker on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits.
There’s also been a decent speckled trout bite from some of the piers.
Inshore, there are spot, croaker, and other bottomfish feeding in the sound, and anglers found action with them from the little bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway.
Few boats have fished offshore since the storm, and the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has sustained some dock damage, but their fleet will be operating out of alternate locations until the docks are repaired. The few boats that fished early this week did find some action with white marlin, so the hurricane’s passage doesn’t seem to have hurt the offshore bite too much.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the upper beaches saw heavy winds and some fallen trees and power outages from Hurricane Irene, but the effects weren’t too bad and many are already back to fishing.
Nearshore charters have found action with bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons around and outside Oregon Inlet. The water’s still a little dirty, and the fishing should continue to improve as it clears.
Offshore, the few boats who’ve fished since the storm have been hooking and releasing white marlin, so the blue water action should be back on track by the time more boats and anglers are ready to head out there.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the marina’s docks suffered some damage from Hurricane Irene, but the charter boats are going out of alternate locations in the area. The water is still a bit stirred up from the storm, but the few boats that have fished since have already found some action with white marlin. The blue water bite will improve as the water continues to clean up from the heavy weather.
Monica Birch, of Nags Head, NC, with a citation-class red drum she caught while fishing out of Oriental, NC on a trip with the International Womens' Fishing Association.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that fishing has been excellent since the storm. Anglers are connecting with spot, croaker, pompano, pigfish, sea mullet, pufferfish, and more while baiting up bottom rigs with shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits.
Some gray and speckled trout and flounder are taking an interest in the bottom rigs and also small live baits fished under the pier.
Bluefish have been feeding around the pier consistently over the week. They’ll bite a variety of baits, and anglers may also be able to connect with the blues while working small metal lures from the pier.
