Northern Beaches April 25, 2013
Mike Augusta, David Ross, boat owner Rob Williams, Kim Reid, Mike Dopudja with a bluefin tuna and 21 tilefish they hooked on a recent trip off Oregon Inlet on with Capt. Lee Collins on the “Strike’Em” out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. The crew also lost a bluefin to a 14′ great white shark that day.
Seth, of TW’s Tackle, reports that there are starting to be more signs of life in the local waters from the sound to the surf.
Anglers are beginning to find some decent speckled trout action while working soft plastic baits from the little bridge on the Manteo/Nags Head causeway. Most of the action has been in the morning, but the specks did bite a bit in the afternoon one day last week.
There’s also been a decent trout and puppy drum bite in the sound at Kitty Hawk, where soft plastics are also producing results.
Bluefish have begun to show up in the sound near Oregon Inlet (some to 3 lbs.), and it shouldn’t be long until they’re feeding in the surf and near the piers in the ocean.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with pufferfish and sea mullet from Jennette’s and OBX piers over the past week, primarily on shrimp.
Anglers also connected with some speckled trout in the surf around the two piers last week, with soft plastic baits tempting most of the bites.
Offshore, yellowfin tuna have made their spring appearance for the Oregon Inlet sportfishing fleet. Some dolphin and blackfin tuna are also in the mix, and both should only get more numerous over the coming weeks. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures like sea witches is fooling the blue water predators.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers’ opportunities off the pier expanded a bit last week. In addition to the ubiquitous skates and dogfish, anglers also connected with pufferfish, sea mullet, bluefish, and some speckled trout last week.
Most of the fish are falling for shrimp and other natural baits on double-drop bottom rigs, but the trout are more likely to take an interest in soft plastic baits on jigheads.
The water is 52 degrees.
Barbara Sherman with a speckled trout that fell for a soft plastic bait in the sound near Kitty Hawk, NC.
Aleesha, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that yellowfin tuna have started to make a solid showing for the offshore boats, and they should be increasing in number by the week. Some blackfin tuna and dolphin have also been in the mix, and all are taking an interest in trolled ballyhoo. Several giant bluefin tuna were caught and released last week, so anglers may still stand a chance at hooking a bluefin.
Inshore boats are hooking speckled trout and an occasional striped bass.
Rob, of Strike’Em Fishing Charters, reports that before the wind kicked into high gear, the Oregon Inlet offshore fleet saw a good showing of dolphin and yellowfin and blackfin tuna, excellent signs for the summer fishing ahead.
Bluefin tuna were also still feeding offshore, and the water temperatures and abundant bait should keep them in the area for a few more weeks. Some larger predators are in the area as well, as the great white shark that attacked a hooked bluefin last week attests.
Offshore bottom fishing is producing some solid hauls of tilefish.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are hooking some pufferfish, croakers, and a few sea mullet in the local surf, mostly on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Some larger bluefish have also surprised a few surf casters over the past week.
Anglers fishing the sound around Oregon Inlet are finding action with speckled trout and puppy drum. Gulp baits are tempting bites from both.
Bluefish should soon be making their spring arrival in the inshore channels near the inlet, and surf casters will see more bluefish action after they pop up in the sound.
Offshore, anglers are hooking yellowfin tuna and some dolphin while trolling ballyhoo. A few bluefin tuna have also been caught recently, but they’re likely soon to head north for the spring and summer.
