Northern Beaches – August 20, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are landing some larger spot, sea mullet, and pompano while fishing from the local beaches. A few legal puppy drum are around as well, and shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits will attract attention from all the surf bottom feeders.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are hooking croaker while bottom fishing with bait. Some speckled trout and keeper flounder have been falling for baits and artificials like soft plastics.
Nearshore trollers are connecting with big numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront. Some king mackerel, small dolphin, and ribbonfish are mixed in. Most of the nearshore pelagics are biting flashy trolling lures like Clarkspoons.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with bluefish croaker, spot, sea mullet, gray trout, pufferfish, and more.
The offshore fleet is still finding big catches of dolphin while trolling around temperature breaks and floating weeds off Oregong inlet. Blackfin tuna and some amberjacks have also been in the mix. Those targeting billfish have had a good week as well, releasing solid numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the blue water predators.
Patrick Harrell (age 14), of Morehead City, with flounder that fell for live finger mullet while he was fishing at AR-315.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet is seeing increasing billfish action, with plenty of blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish release flags flying from their outriggers as they return to the marina in the afternoons.
Those targeting meatfish are still hooking big numbers of dolphin (with many limit catches). Some wahoo and blackfin and yellowfin tuna have been in the meatfish mix as well.
Most of the pelagic predators are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo boats are trolling.
Trolling closer to the beachfront is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel along with some king mackerel, false albacore, ribbonfish, and more. Flashy lures like Clarkspoons pulled behind planers and inline sinkers are fooling the pelagics closer to the beach. Some smaller dolphin have been mixed in a bit further off the beachfront.
Anglers bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet are hooking big numbers of flounder, sea mullet, gray trout, sea bass, croaker, spot, bluefish, pigfish, and more.
Anglers fishing inshore are connecting with some over-slot red drum on a variety of baits and lures.
Hunter Sorrell (age 8) with his first citation speckled trout, a 26″ fish that bit a Rapala Skitterwalk topwater plug while he was fishing the lower Neuse River with his father.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin fishing has been on fire for the local offshore fleet recently (with easy limits many days and a better average size than in recent weeks). A few wahoo have been mixed in with the ‘phins.
Those targeting billfish have been finding plenty of success as well, releasing sailfish and white and blue marlin over the past week.
All the offshore pelagics are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo in the boats’ wakes. Teasers like dredges and daisy chains will help attract the billfish into the spread.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have caught good numbers of pompano over the past week along with other bottom feeders like pigfish, spot, sea mullet, and more. Cut shrimp and other baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Anglers dropping live and strip baits around the pilings have been connecting with some undersized and keeper flounder.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have been taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other casting lures anglers are working from the pier.
