Northern Beaches – August 2023
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum fishing has been good back in the sound. Anglers are seeing some bigger fish mixed in.
Speckled trout anglers are doing well while fishing live baits (pinfish and baby croakers).
Sheepshead are being caught around the local bridges and off some of the piers.
Surf anglers saw a recent upwelling of cold water with all the west winds. As wind directions start to turn a little more to the northwest, it can be good for bringing bluefish and spanish mackerel in close.
Bottom rigs with shrimp, sand fleas, or artificial bait strips are producing croakers, sea mullet, and spot.
A handful of red drum are in the surf, with most caught closer to the inlet. Some larger drum are around, but they’re mostly being caught at night.
The piers have seen a handful of tarpon cruising by on the warm water days.
Nearshore anglers are catching a bunch of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some scattered small dolphin.
A good amberjack bite can be found over bottoms out by the tower.
Offshore boats are catching a bunch of mahi and billfish. Tuna are mixed in, but the bite has somewhat tapered off.
Bottom fishing is producing plenty of tilefish.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that the great run of quality speckled trout has continued for the Outer Banks. Topwater plugs have been a great way to target these fish on the flats before the fish slide into deeper pockets to avoid the heat. Live bait has also been a great choice to entice these larger trout to feed.
Some slot-sized red drum are mixed in these same areas, and they will strike the same offerings.
Anglers can find sheepshead while fishing sand fleas around the sound’s hard structures.
Off the beach, a few more tarpon than usual are showing up, alongside the occasional cobia.
Michael Johnson, of Hampstead, NC, hooked this yellowfin tuna using a crystal Sea Witch with ballyhoo. He was fishing out of Oregon Inlet.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that speckled trout and red drum fishing has been steady throughout the area.
The trout are striking at jigs fished over grass flats. On calmer days, anglers targeting trout have had success fishing in deeper areas with live bait.
On windy days, anglers are finding red drum action while casting cut baits on the shallow flats.
Sheepshead fishing has been good around reefs in the sound and the area’s bridge structures. Black drum are mixed in around the same hard structures.
Teresa, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers out on the Little Bridge early in the morning have been landing some speckled trout. Bottom fishing from the Little Bridge is producing black drum and a mixed bag of various bottom critters.
The surf anglers have been doing well bottom fishing for croakers, sea mullet, and scattered drum. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also running in the surf, though pier anglers have seemed to be doing a little better than surf anglers.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that the inshore speckled trout bite continues to see one of the best overall years in recent memory. A lot of good-sized trout are being caught with live bait. If out on the water in the early morning, topwater plugs are also providing nice strikes.
Anglers can target the inshore hard structures for some sheepshead.
Nearshore fishing has been good, with catches of king mackerel (to 40 lbs.) and false albacore out over the nearshore ARs.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that anglers on recent trips have found really good numbers of bailer dolphin around to load up the boxes.
The billfish action has also been in high gear, with releases of blue marlin and sailfish.
The tuna action has been a bit hit or miss, with the quality in size being really nice if the bite is cooperating.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore anglers have been returning with good numbers of mahi.
Some nice-sized yellowfin tuna are also mixed in the catches.
The billfish action has been really strong, with plenty of sailfish, blue marlin, and some white marlin release flags flying.
Bottom fishing has produced tilefish.
Nearshore runs are returning with spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, bluefish, and black sea bass.
Inshore anglers are catching quality speckled trout, as well as some red drum and bluefish.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore boats have been catching and releasing a bunch of billfish. The flags are definitely flying, with multiple sailfish and some blue marlin releases. Nice-sized yellowfin tuna are mixed in.
The mahi action has been relatively strong, with some trips seeing double digit numbers of catches.
Anglers breaking from the trolling action are hitting the bottom for triggerfish, black sea bass, and amberjack.
Nearshore boats are catching nice-sized king mackerel, spanish mackerel, and a bunch of ribbonfish.
Coye Ennis, of Stumpy Point, NC, caught this 21″ trout on a popping cork. He was fishing in Manns Harbor with his dad, Andy Ennis.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers are landing some good-sized sea mullet, spots, and bluefish.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers getting out on the beach have been doing really well bottom fishing for spot, croakers, and sea mullet.
Schools of bluefish are moving in the surf zone as well, and they’re hitting on cut baits and metals.
Red drum are also scattered in the surf action.
Soundside anglers continue to see some really good speckled trout and red drum action when fishing from the Nags Head area down to the inlet.
Nearshore anglers are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a bunch of ribbonfish.
