Northern Beaches – April 14, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that the southern beaches are catching a few bluefish and small flounder, as well as some black drum. Blow toads have been everywhere along the southern beaches, and southern Hatteras Island has also seen some sea mullets and puppy drum. Big drum showed up in early April off the point, and they were caught during both daylight and evening hours.
The piers are reporting skates, pufferfish, sand perch, small sea mullet, and a few gray trout in the past week or two.
There have been trout and stripers off the Little Bridge as well.
Offshore boats caught some yellowfin and dolphin in the first week of April, as well as a bluefin that weighed in at 144 lbs.
Oaklee Hyatt, from Lumberton, with a 18.5″ red he caught on cut mullet while fishing on the beach in Rodanthe.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers have been catching some nice bluefin tuna in the 60” to 70” range, including one that weighed in at 669 lbs. The yellowfin are also starting to come in, and they should pick up in the next couple of weeks when the wind dies down.
Inshore, anglers have been catching some stripers in the sound, but it has been slow in the past week or so as the winds have kept most anglers at the docks.
Helen, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been reeling in sand perch, spot, shad, and pufferfish in the first part of April, as well as 3-4 recent striped bass, which were the first of the season. The spring fishing has been slow up to this point, with skates and dogfish being caught regularly.
Brian, of Waverunner Sportfishing Charters, reports that there have scattered yellowfin tunas and a few wahoos offshore, and both should pick up in the next few weeks. There are still some bluefin around in the cooler waters, and there have been small signs of dolphin off of Hatteras.
Tim, of Outer Banks Fishing Charters, reports that pufferfish, small rockfish, and bluefish have been caught in the ocean waters right outside the inlet. The pufferfish and bluefish have been hitting both shrimp and squid.
With heavy winds and a rush of freshwater, catfish up to 14 or 15 lbs. have been caught in the sounds and harbor, in between the old and new bridges off of Roanoke Island. In the sound, there have been lots of eels and rockfish, and a few puppy drum have been spotted.
A few speckled trout are in the flats and marshes, and if the water stays consistently warm, anglers can expect the drum fishing to pick up.
Ed, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that with water temperatures around 50 degrees, anglers have been reeling in croaker, pufferfish, sea mullet, and bluefish, as well as plenty of sharks, skates, and sting rays. A few small striper and drum in the 16” range have also been caught off the beach, and with the water temperatures warming up, the bigger drum that have been reported off of Cape Point on Hatteras Island should be making their way north. Anglers can also expect to see trout and flounder as the fishing picks up.
And anglers are catching stripers as well as perch in the Pamlico, Albemarle, and Currituck sounds.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that there have been a few good catches on the northern beaches, including a few pollock fish, which are more common in the Cape Cod area. There have also been dogfish and skates, as well as a couple pufferfish, croakers, and bluefish.
