Northern Beaches August 11, 2011
Andrew Dunnigan (age 10), of Perry Hall, MD, with a dolphin he hooked on Outer Banks Pier while casting a spoon.
Jess, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers on the northern beaches are connecting with some croaker, spot, and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and Fish Bites.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and falling for small metal lures that anglers are casting.
Inshore, fishing around Little Bridge has been producing more croakers along with some speckled trout and flounder. Soft plastic baits like Gulps are accounting for most of the trout and flounder.
Flounder are also feeding in Oregon Inlet, where anglers are hooking them while casting Gulps and small live baits.
Trolling Clarkspoons and other lures in and just off the inlet has been producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel along with some false albacore.
Offshore, dolphin are still providing the most consistent action. Boats are also connecting with some yellowfin tuna and billfish (like sailfish and white and blue marlin). Skirted and naked ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures will produce results with the blue water predators.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still connecting with some speckled trout while working soft plastic baits in the sound, but the action has slowed a bit.
Flounder are feeding in Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking them on small live baits and Gulps.
The spanish mackerel bite remains strong in and just off Oregon Inlet. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the spaniards.
Surf casters have been finding action with sea mullet, croaker, spot, and good numbers of pompano while casting shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs.
Some amberjacks are holding on the offshore wrecks, and they will pounce on live baits like bluefish.
Offshore trollers are finding a solid billfish bite to the northeast of the inlet, primarily while trolling naked and skirted ballyhoo. Yellowfin tuna have been popping up further south around the Point, and good numbers of dolphin are still mixed with the tuna and billfish.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still catching plenty of dolphin (and there are still some big gaffers around). Yellowfin tuna are also showing up in good numbers offshore and taking an interest in trolled baits.
The billfish bite has gotten kicked off, and boats are releasing numbers of sailfish and white marlin (along with a few blue marlin). All the offshore pelagics are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Ashley Bahen, from Nags Head, with a huge striped burrfish she hooked in the sound. Photo courtesy of TW's Bait and Tackle.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing solid catches of black sea bass and tilefish.
Closer to the beaches, boats also caught a few dolphin when clean water was pushed inshore last week. Blacktip sharks and some cobia are providing more action with large predators without too long a ride from the inlet.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a few false albacore are feeding in and just off Oregon Inlet, and they’re falling for trolled spoons.
In the inlet and inshore, there have been flounder, bluefish, and croaker falling for baited bottom rigs.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers have been catching some fat yellowfin tuna while trolling offshore lately. Bailer dolphin are still prevalent most days, and a few wahoo have also been caught lately to complete the meatfish slam.
The billfish bite is also turning on, and boats are recording good numbers of white marlin releases with a few sailfish and blue marlin also in the mix.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding good numbers of spot, sea mullet, and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in metal lures worked fast from the pier, and a small dolphin was also caught by a plug caster last week.
