Northern Beaches – August 18, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf fishermen are catching bluefish, sea mullet, spot, and pompano, and there were reports of a fast and quick drum bite off of Ramp 4.
Anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported trout, black drum, spot, and croakers, especially in the early morning hours.
Along the piers, anglers are landing a mixed bag of summer fish which include blues, pompano, flounder, pins, pigs, sea mullet, spot, and perch. There has also been keeper cobia caught (as well as a few smaller cobias), and a 3 lb. spanish mackerel was landed off the Nags Head Pier.
The nearshore and inshore fleets have also been catching a wide assortment of species. Nearshore boats trolling along the shore caught plenty of spanish and bluefish, as well as king mackerel, albacore, and moonfish.
Inshore vessels reported trout, blues, and spanish.
Offshore, the yellowfin bite has slowed down considerably. The mahi fishing continues to be fair, and boats have been catching their limits when bottom fishing for tilefish. There have also been a few blackfins and wahoo, and the billfish action has been revving up in time for the tournaments, with a number of white marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish caught.
JD Bond with a flounder caught in the Pamlico Sound near Oregon Inlet.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore boats are catching limits of tilefish, as well as dolphin, although it appears that the yellowfin tuna have finally left the area. There have also been plenty of wahoo caught, including a number in the citation range.
Nearshore boats are catching bluefish and amberjack, while inshore boats are catching spanish mackerel and keeper flounder.
Erin White with a citation red drum caught while surf fishing Oregon Inlet.
Daryl, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that there have been a wide variety of fish caught, including bluefish, spot, black sea bass, triggerfish, flounder, spadefish, spanish mackerel, pompano, and false albacore.
There were also recent reports of a few cobia caught.
Blaine, of Avalon Fishing Pier, reports that there were recent catches of baby sailfish off the pier, as well as a handful of spadefish and triggerfish. Anglers have been mostly reeling in bluefish and spanish mackerel, and a few cobia continue to come over the rails.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf fishing has been solid all along the beaches. Many bluefish are being caught on artificial lures. Anglers using bolt baits at daylight are also landing a number of keeper flounder when the water has been clear, and the bottom fishing has been decent with plenty of sea mullet landed.
Off the pier, anglers are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel, and there have also been a handful of small sailfish in the 1’ to 1.5’ range that were recently caught off the local piers on Gotcha plugs.
Inshore vessels are catching their limits of speckled trout, and there have been some big red fish caught in Oregon Inlet in the 30-40 lb. range. Half day trips in the ocean are resulting in steady catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
The offshore fishing has been a little slower, but there are still steady reports of mahi and billfish.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishermen all along the northern beaches are catching large numbers of bluefish, and schools of spanish mackerel are making an appearance every day and night like clockwork. There has also been a solid amount of sea mullet caught on bloodworms, as well as croaker, spot, and gray trout. Pompano are also making an appearance when the conditions are right (when the water is really warm and clear).
Inshore boats are landing blues. They are also running into large schools of catch-and-release oversized drum, and the area wreck fishing has resulted in plenty of amberjack. Head boat fishing in and around the inlet has been solid, with catches of flounder, gray trout, sea mullet, and black drum.
