Northern Beaches – Aug 16, 2018
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bluefish and sea mullet have been biting well from the surf on the southern Hatteras beaches. Most of the bluefish action is focused around Avon, and pompano have been feeding on sand fleas around Ramp 49. Bottom rigs with shrimp have been best for the mullet.
Puppy drum are biting in areas around Ramp 43 up through the Nags Head surf.
The west side of the point opened, and anglers venturing out there were rewarded with steady action of spanish mackerel and bluefish on glass minnow jigs.
Anglers on the northern beaches are reporting strong catches of bottom fish species (sea mullet, spot, and pigfish) feeding on shrimp and sand fleas.
The piers are seeing good numbers of sea mullet and spot for anglers bottom fishing with shrimp. Those with sand fleas fished close to the pilings are bringing in some sheepshead, spadefish, and black drum. Bluefish are feeding on the surface, and Gotcha plugs have worked well when they school up. Cut bait on a Carolina rig has also caught a few. The occasional pompano has also been reported.
The nearshore anglers are seeing great numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling with Clarkspoons. False albacore have been schooled up off the beaches and are hitting trolled spoons. There have been a lot of good reports of red drum from sight casting anglers.
King mackerel have been showing a little more now that the weather has allowed the water to stabilize. They have been hitting spoons trolled behind planers.
Anglers around the inlets are catching bluefish, flounder, and sea mullet.
Some larger sheepshead have been caught at the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
The little bridge in Manteo is producing speckled trout early in the mornings, and then good bottom fishing as the day progresses. Anglers have reported some keeper flounder, spot, croakers, and sheepshead.
Inshore anglers are finding some good-sized speckled trout recently, and mixed around the structure along the banks are “schoolie” striped bass.
The deeper areas of the channels are seeing smaller schools of bluefish.
Billfishing has been steady for the boats headed offshore. Blues, whites, and sailfish are all being reported.
The wahoo bite has been good for anglers keeping baits down.
Some bailer and gaffer dolphin are being caught, but alnglers are having to fight through grass mats still scattered from the recent weather.
A nice showing of yellowfin tuna have been hitting skirted ballyhoo.
Anglers hitting the bottom are seeing big numbers of tilefish.
Kathleen Hotte pulled this 32″ bull red from the surf while fishing on the beach near Nags Head.
Mark, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that billfishing has been steadily improving, with good numbers of white marlin and sailfish releases. A couple of big blue marlin have also been caught around those offshore breaks.
Dolphin fishing has been scattered, but some large fish (to 47 lbs.) are still being caught on skirted ballyhoo.
Yellowfin tuna (to 40 lbs.) have been coming back to the dock recently, with scattered blackfin mixed in.
Anglers working nearshore are finding bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling by schools of bait.
A few hard fighting false albacore are mixed in with the spanish in the cleaner water.
The boats out sight casting are catching good numbers of large red drum and a few cobia.
The headboat anglers are reporting flounder, black sea bass, pigfish, and sea mullet.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that good-sized speckled trout are biting on jigs fished around shoreline structure.
Flounder have been hanging closer to the ledges, and Gulp soft plastics have worked great in getting flatfish in the cooler.
Red drum have been biting well for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged cut baits.
A few cobia have been hanging around for anglers keeping an eye out for cruising fish.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that billfishing has been getting very good offshore. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are all being reported.
Some gaffer dolphin are in most daily catches.
Good numbers of wahoo, with a couple being citation fish, are coming from baits run deeper under the spread.
Nearshore anglers are finding a lot of tilefish and black sea bass on the bottom.
Trolling just off the beach is producing spanish mackerel, bluefish, and the occasional false albacore.
Jenny Fuller with her first amberjack, which she picked up on the troll while pulling a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow 22 miles off of Oak Island.
Julia, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that spot and croaker are biting well on shrimp fished on a bottom rig.
Sea mullet are also being caught in good numbers off the bottom.
Bluefish have been more schooled up after the storms and are hitting Gotcha plugs.
Flounder have been showing in good numbers, with a better ratio being legal fish.
Some spadefish, triggers, and sheepshead have been found around the pilings on smaller baits.
A few pompano and black drum are being caught closer to the beach on shrimp.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that sea mullet have been biting steady for anglers fishing with shrimp on bottom rigs.
Bluefish are being caught on Gotcha plugs near the end of the pier.
Black drum have been landed closer to the breakers on shrimp.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that a lot of “tailor” bluefish have kept anglers busy with casting jigs and Carolina-rigged cut baits.
Sea mullet have been biting well for anglers fishing bottom rigs.
Good numbers of spots and croakers are being caught alongside the mullet.
A couple of keeper flounder are biting tight to the beach, with the best tactic being Gulp baits fished on a jig head.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers bottom fishing are finding large numbers of sea mullet, spot, and croakers all over the beach.
Some nice keeper flounder are being landed in the surf, too.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are running within casting distance in the early mornings and around sunset. Casting spoons have worked great for anglers throwing to these feeding schools.
