Northern Beaches April 12, 2012
Chris Crockett, of Jennette's Pier, with a speckled trout that bit a Rapala X-Rap in the sound behind Kill Devil Hills. Photo courtesy of Jennette's Pier and Aaron Beatson.
Wheeler, of TW’s Tackle, reports that pier anglers are hooking up with some pufferfish and sea mullet along with plenty of skates and rays. A wave of bluefish came through a few weeks back, so anglers should be able to look forward to the return of the blues when the water warms up a bit more.
Some black drum and smaller croakers have been caught from the Little Bridge pier recently. They and the pier bottom feeders are both taking an interest in shrimp.
Some speckled trout have also been feeding around the Little Bridge, and Gulp or Saltwater Assassin soft baits on jigheads have been getting their attention.
Offshore, there was a solid yellowfin tuna bite around the Point last week when the weather let boats get out. A few wahoo have also been in the area, and both are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s finally something happening in the local surf, with pufferfish, taylor bluefish, and plenty of dogfish making up most of the action. Shrimp on bottom rigs are getting attention from the fish in the surf.
Michael DiMichelle with a red drum he caught and released at Cape Point after it bit a cut bait. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.
Plenty of menhaden have been in the area and moving down the beaches, which should be an excellent sign for the year ahead.
Offshore, there’s been an excellent yellowfin tuna bite around the Point and further south. Dolphin and some scattered wahoo are mixed in, and all are falling for ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Not much is happening back in the sound yet, but the water is warming up steadily and it shouldn’t be long.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have had a mixed bag while bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits over the past week. Sea mullet, gray and speckled trout, pufferfish, croaker, sand perch, hickory shad, and of course skates and rays have all come over the rails recently.
The water has been holding steady around 55 degrees.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports the offshore fleet has been returning with excellent (often limiting out) catches of yellowfin tuna, along with a few wahoo and mako sharks.
John, from Georgia, with a bull dolphin that bit a skirted ballyhoo while he was trolling the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Jay Kavanagh aboard the charterboat "Bite Me" out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports the yellowfin tuna action has been excellent when the fleet has been able to get offshore lately. Limit catches have been a regular occurrence when the warm water is over the break around and offshore of the Point.
Some gaffer dolphin and a mako shark also joined in on the catch on recent trips. All the blue water predators are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
