Northern Beaches April 24, 2014
Joe Marr with a citation red drum that bit a cut bait in the surf at Cape Point. Photo courtesy of Tightline Charters.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf casters are starting to see more action on the northern beaches, with some excellent puppy drum fishing around Oregon Inlet on many recent days. Some black drum, bluefish, and puffers have also been rewarding surf casters in the area as well. Shrimp and cut baits are tempting most of the fish in the breakers.
Surf casters to the south are catching much of the same but in better numbers, and anglers should see sea mullet show up and everything else improve up the beach once the water temperatures climb a bit more.
Things are improving in the sound, and anglers are finding some solid puppy drum and striped bass action from boats and while fishing from the little bridge on the causeway. A variety of soft plastics will fool both of the inshore predators.
The offshore fleet has been stuck at the docks quite a bit recently, but the bluefin tuna bite has been on when boats can make it out. Bottom fishing offshore is producing some solid hauls of tilefish.
Zach Diamond, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, with a slot red drum that he hooked while fishing Oregon Inlet with Rachel Marshall. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that winds have kept boats at the dock for over a week, but there was some solid action when they were last able to get offshore. Bluefin tuna (most under 72”) and yellowfin tuna have been falling for trolled ballyhoo around temperature breaks to the south and east of the inlet.
Bottom fishing offshore has produced plenty of delicious tilefish as well.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that when the boats have been able to get offshore lately, the bluefin tuna action has been outstanding. The fish have not only been feeding voraciously, but running large (many 500-700 lbs.), and boats have been staying hooked up all day. Pairing skirted trolling lures with larger and horse ballyhoo is the way to tempt bites from the bluefins.
Tim Norris, of Raleigh, NC, with a puppy drum that bit a cut bait in the Ocracoke surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Tackle.
Rob, of Strike ‘Em Charters, reports that weather hasn’t let the fleet get offshore for over a week, but last weekend boats saw some incredible bluefin tuna action (with fish to 400+ lbs.). The fish have been corralling chopper bluefish (themselves 10-15 lbs.) into bait balls and attacking them on the surface. Large skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the bluefins that boats are hooking.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have seen some action recently when the ocean’s been calm enough to fish. Bottom fishing with shrimp, squid, and bloodworms has been tempting bites from sea mullet, croaker, pufferfish, and other bottom feeders in recent weeks.
There’s also been some excellent puppy drum action on many recent days, with the same baits fished near the surf zone fooling the pups.
The water is 48 degrees.
