Northern Beaches August 15, 2013
Susan Gilliam with a 76 lb. cobia that bit a squid-tipped bucktail near Oregon Inlet while she was fishing with Capt. Tom Gilliam on the “Quik Draw.”
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of spot, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders (along with some bluefish) while fishing the local surf. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are producing most of the action.
Speckled trout action in the sounds from Oregon Inlet north remains solid, with most of the fish falling for soft plastic baits.
Anglers are also hooking the specks from the little bridge on the causeway, along with black drum, sheepshead, and croaker, while fishing natural baits like shrimp.
Anglers fishing the Oregon Inlet Bridge are also connecting with sheepshead and croaker along with some bluefish and flounder.
Inshore trollers are finding plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel while pulling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures around the inlet and in the ocean and sound. A few cobia are still in the same areas and biting sight-cast bucktails.
Offshore, the billfish bite is turning on, and boats released excellent numbers of white marlin along with some blue marlin and sailfish last week. The tuna and dolphin bite remains decent offshore as well, and boats have also been bringing some citation-class wahoo back to the docks. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the blue water predators.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing the billfishing really heat up off Oregon Inlet, with big numbers of white marlin along with some sailfish and blue marlin feeding offshore.
Meat-fishing offshore is still producing yellowfin and blackfin tuna, dolphin, and some big wahoo. Most of the pelagic fish are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Mate Bo Davenport, Capt. Lee Collins, and Taylor Collins (age 5) with release flags after the team scored a grand slam plus a white marlin while trolling ballyhoo offshore of Oregon Inlet on the charterboat “Strike ‘Em.”
Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite remains solid, and boats are hooking them while trolling small spoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Some cobia are still around Oregon Inlet and just offshore, and boats are hooking them on sight-cast bucktail jigs and other offerings.
Bottom fishing at nearshore wrecks has been filling fish boxes with triggerfish.
Back in the sound, there’s still a solid speckled trout and puppy drum bite, along with a few flounder. Soft plastics and a variety of natural baits are fooling the inshore predators.
Rob, of Strike ‘Em Sportfishing, reports that there was some phenomenal billfish action (including a grand slam) last week, but storms slowed the bite a bit over the weekend. White marlin have been the most prevalent of the long-snouted fish, but boats are seeing and hooking decent numbers of sailfish and some blue marlin as well. Ballyhoo trolled along with dredge and daisy chain teasers are producing most of the action with the billfish.
Yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, and gaffer dolphin are also feeding offshore of the inlet, and they’re taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo as well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet, spot, pompano, pufferfish, spadefish, triggerfish, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp, bloodworms, and squid.
Some bluefish are taking an interest in the bottom rigs, as well as Gotcha plugs and other casting lures that anglers are working.
