Northern Beaches – Aug 2, 2018
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that sea mullet and bluefish have been the hot bite around the southern Avon and Buxton beaches. A majority of these fish have been caught on bottom rigs with shrimp.
Pompano are being caught a little further down on the Frisco beaches with sand fleas.
The beaches north of Oregon Inlet have seen good action on sea mullet, croaker, and spot, and anglers soaking cut mullet on Carolina rigs have caught some upper-slot drum off the surf around the inlet. In addition, this time of year always produces a few sharks on cut bait.
The area’s piers have been catching a good variety of bottom fish on shrimp. Sea mullet, spot, pigfish, and black drum are all coming over the rails.
Before this last run of storms, king mackerel had begun to show at the ends of the piers (including 32.5 lb. fish being caught off Avalon Pier). King anglers on the pier look forward to more action once the clean water returns and then bait schools push in close together.
The little bridge in Manteo has produced trout, stripers, and sheepshead.
Inshore anglers are seeing a run of trout, striped bass, and flounder found throughout the area. Live bait works great, but anglers that like keeping busy are catching all three species on soft plastics and 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Some large sheepshead have been caught around bridge pilings.
Nearshore boats are catching bluefish and false albacore while trolling.
Before the recent storms, there were reports of king mackerel and cobia. Stable weather should bring in some more action of both species.
Local live bottom areas are holding triggers, spadefish, and some big amberjacks.
Out in the Stream, white and blue marlin are hitting some of the bigger plugs rigged with ballyhoo.
Dolphin and the occasional blackfin are being caught on those same skirted baits around the temperature/color breaks.
Bottom fishing for black sea bass and tilefish is good around the deeper wrecks.
David Towler, of Hibert, NC, and Michael Meyer, of Chesapeake, VA, each had a blue marlin release while landing a number of mahi. They were fishing a weed line in 70 fathoms behind the Rockpile with Capt. Jessie Anderson of Carolina Girl Sportfishing out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Mark, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the wahoo bite has been good since the last storms pushed through. Some large fish (to 40 lbs.) are being caught in the Stream.
Mahi fishing has stayed strong, with both gaffer and bailer-sized fish being brought in daily. Though the rough waters have scattered the grass, a few days of stable weather should bunch it all right back up, making anglers’ jobs easier.
White marlin releases are mixed in with the counts on the Stream trips.
Nearshore boats are finding good numbers of bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers.
The head boat is catching sea mullet, spot, pinfish, and a couple flounder on mainly bottom rigs with fresh shrimp.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that sound fishing has been good for slot-sized red drum and some larger speckled trout on soft plastics around oyster beds and flats.
Flounder have been found in deeper water around the inlet and near structure along the channels.
Nearshore, the bluefish bite continues to be strong, and calmer weather should push some cleaner water in for the anglers that like to sight cast.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that billfish have been strong offshore, with white marlin being caught on most days that boats leave the docks. Some larger blue marlin are mixed in with the daily releases.
Mahi fishing continues to be awesome, with a good majority of fish being gaffer-sized. Skirted ballyhoo trolled along the weed lines is the go to tactic.
Wahoo have made a good showing in recent days, and signs are pointing to them making a stay in the daily fish counts.
Tilefish are being caught around the wrecks with cut baits.
Nearshore boats are finding bluefish and false albacore while trolling around schools of bait.
Some king mackerel have made an appearance, and anglers expect to see more bites when the cleaner water pushes back in.
Closer wrecks and live bottoms have been loaded with spadefish and amberjack.
Cobia are still around, and a couple have been caught by anglers sight-casting with bucktails.
Boats in the sound are finding smaller schools of slot-sized red drum on the flats hitting live baits and gold spoons. Speckled trout are feeding in the deeper channels just off these flats and on grass points, and keeper flounder are biting Carolina-rigged live mud minnows.
The “Goin’ Deep” Fishing Team, led by Capt. Mark Stephenson, won the 2018 Raleigh KMT with this 47.04 lb. king.
Julia, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers fishing bottom rigs tipped with shrimp are catching large numbers of sea mullet, spot, and croaker.
Bluefish are being caught on Gotcha plugs and Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Some black drum are being reported on fresh shrimp fished closer to the breakers.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers toughing out the weather are being rewarded with their fill of sea mullet and spot feeding on shrimp.
Some smaller flounder have also bit some of the bottom rigs.
Bluefish are being caught while feeding on bait schools as they run past the pier.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the seemingly constant wind and rain has kept some anglers from hitting the surf, but the fish are still out there in good numbers. Spot, whiting, and croaker are all feeding well on fresh shrimp and sand fleas in the wash.
Bluefish are being caught by anglers watching for schools busting on baits and casting metal jigs to them. When that action is slow, cut mullet on a Carolina rig will get some of the better-sized blues to bite.
Keeper flounder are still around the drop-offs right off the shoreline, and when the water settles, anglers should anticipate more fish being caught.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been doing very well on some good-sized sea mullet while fishing with fresh bait shrimp.
Bluefish are feeding on cut mullet fished under Carolina rigs.
Anglers soaking mullet have found a couple red drum on the Nags Head area beaches.
