Northern Beaches – August 2021
Madison, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing has been the main source of action for surf anglers. Fresh dead baits and artificial bait strips are producing spot, croakers, and sea mullet.
Anglers fishing sand fleas in holes just off the sand are catching some pompano, and a few flounder are mixed in the action for anglers fishing soft plastics and bottom-rigged baits.
Fresh cut mullet has been producing skates and scattered red drum, and schools of bluefish are feeding on bait schools just outside the sandbars.
Pier anglers are finding a mix of all the above species, as well as sheepshead and spadefish around the pilings.
Sound fishing has been producing good numbers of red drum on flats along the shoreline.
Anglers are catching limits of speckled trout while working holes and deeper grass banks with shrimp and soft plastics.
Flounder are just about everywhere inshore for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged live baits and soft plastics on jig heads, and large schools of bluefish are holding in deeper areas inside the inlet.
Striped bass are hitting soft plastics along bridges and around sound-side structure. Sheepshead are holding tight to similar structures for anglers fishing crabs and sand fleas.
The nearshore bite has been centered around trolling action. A variety of bluefish, spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, and false albacore have all been a part of daily counts.
Offshore action has been incredible. Boats are headed in early some days as they hit limits of mahi and bonus tuna species (bigeyes and yellowfins). Also, a few boats are returning with blue and white marlin release flags flying.
Bottom fishing offshore has been producing plenty of tilefish.
Caleb Kuklewski (age 7), from Shawboro, caught this mahi while trolling ballyhoo off Hatteras Inlet.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that inshore anglers have been experiencing a great speckled trout bite, with limits of large keepers (up to 24”).
Red drum are actively feeding in the sounds, and most trips are finding good catch numbers.
Offshore fishing has been awesome, with tuna around in great numbers. On some days, boats are returning by noon with boxes filled with bigeyes (up to 100 lbs.) and yellowfin tuna.
Mahi (up to 41 lbs.) have been mixed in.
Both blue and white marlin releases are being recorded daily, with even more fish being fought but not landed.
A great class of tilefish (up to 12 lbs.) fill out the counts for anglers stopping to drop baits to them.
Nearshore anglers are catching limits of spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, and false albacore.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been great throughout the inshore waters of the Outer Banks. Anglers are finding a great class of large trout striking a variety of live baits, topwater plugs, and soft plastic swimbaits on jig heads. Targeting inshore ledges or drop-offs that are next to shallow grass flats has been key.
Puppy drum are feeding right alongside the trout, with Carolina-rigged cut bait producing a good amount of the action. Artificial baits have also had success, such as soft plastics fished under popping corks or rigged on jig heads.
Trophy-sized red drum and cobia are being caught by anglers sight-casting bucktails off the beachfronts.
Billy, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that Little Bridge anglers have been catching a good mixed bag of bottom fish, including black drum, croakers, and white perch. Pieces of fresh shrimp and artificial bait strips are producing best.
Speckled trout are all over the sound, with some being caught at the bridge both early and late in the day. Live baits and soft plastics are getting strikes.
Some red drum are in the mix for anglers fishing cut baits.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore fishing has been great. Boxes loaded with mahi and yellowfin tuna (up to 88 lbs.) are returning to the docks each day.
Billfish action has been steady, with a handful of trips having success when running deep to target blue and white marlin.
Large bigeye tuna and scattered wahoo (up to 64 lbs.) round out the offshore trolling action.
Bottom fishing has been producing good numbers of tilefish.
Nearshore trips are catching ribbonfish, false albacore, and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing at the shallower structures has produced some nice-sized triggerfish, and inlet anglers are having good action on catch-and-release striped bass.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that fishing has been inconsistent for most species outside of the smaller bottom fish. A mix of croakers and sea mullet have been the main catches.
Brittany Hughes, from Wrightsville Beach, with a yellowfin tuna that was hooked on a skirted ballyhoo. She was fishing out of Oregon Inlet with Al’s Gal Sportfishing.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught with casting jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Anglers setup with bottom rigs are landing good numbers of croakers and some spot.
A few flounder are mixed in.
Jeff, of Albemarle Fishing Charters, reports that anglers surf fishing in the Nags Head area are seeing some good bottom fish action. A mix of sea mullet, spot, and good numbers of croakers are holding in deeper troughs along the beach.
Bluefish are being caught with cut baits and casting jigs (when they are breaking the surface).
Scattered red drum are mixed in for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged mullet.
In the Albemarle Sound, anglers look forward to the water temperatures coming down for the striped bass bite to pick up. Targeting the area’s bridges and structures are key in locating the schools of rockfish.
Redfish action has mostly been from areas around the inlet, as a wet month has water salinities down.
