Northern Beaches April 26, 2012
James Joyce with a 3.3. lb. speckled trout he hooked from the little bridge alongside the Nags Head/Manteo causeway. Weighed in at TW's Tackle.
Nick, of TW’s Tackle, reports that there’s been a decent speckled trout bite at a variety of spots in the sound lately. Most of the fish are smaller, but there are some solid keepers (to 3+ lbs.) mixed in. The action’s been best in the early morning hours, and the Little Bridge pier, Oregon Inlet, and sloughs around the Bodie Island Lighthouse have been some of the most productive locations. Bass Assassin and Gulp soft baits on light jigheads have been fooling most of the specks.
Surf and pier anglers are connecting with bluefish (with some days producing excellent catches), sea mullet, pufferfish, a few flounder, and plenty of skates and sharks. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the action.
Offshore boats have been finding good action with yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo, primarily to the south in the vicinity of the Point. Trolled ballyhoo are producing most of the action with the blue water predators.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that that the surf temperature climbed above 60 degrees last week, producing some good fishing for sea mullet, croaker, and bluefish, but it’s fallen back down a bit since the recent weather. When the water temps climb back above the 60 degree threshold, the bite should turn back on. Shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs are the way to go in the surf.
Offshore, the bigeye tuna have made a bit of a showing in recent weeks, and anglers are landing good numbers of yellowfins and some wahoo, too. Most of the action has been to the south around the Point.
Andrew Radford, of Hatteras Jack, with a chopper bluefish he hooked on a cut bait in the Hatteras Island surf.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that yellowfin tuna are still the main action going for the offshore fleet, with good to great catches when the boats can get out. Decent numbers of wahoo (including some big fish to 60-70 lbs.) and gaffer dolphin are feeding in the same areas, and they also are taking an interest in the ballyhoo that boats are trolling for the tunas. Several blue marlin releases have been tallied by the Oregon Inlet boats over the past week, so the billfish are beginning to make a showing as well.
Bottom fishing has been producing good catches of tilefish offshore and some catch-and-release sea bass action closer to the beaches.
Bluefish are feeding in the sound and falling for trolled spoons and other lures.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna action is still going off Oregon Inlet. It’s been a bit slower over the past weeks than earlier in the spring, but boats are still putting together some solid catches. Some dolphin and wahoo (some to 60+ lbs.) have been in the mix, and all the blue water gamefish are taking an interest in ballyhoo under sea witches and other skirted trolling lures.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bluefish have shown up in force, and anglers caught good numbers (sometimes two at a time) over the past week. Some pufferfish, sea mullet, hickory shad, and skates have been in the mix as well.
Bottom rigs baited with shrimp, squid, and cut baits are producing most of the action.
