Northern Beaches – August 21, 2014
Steve Guglielmo with a 28″ red drum he caught and released in the Nags Head surf. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf casters fishing the northern beaches are connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and other bottom feeders along with good numbers of bluefish. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are producing most of the action in the breakers.
Anglers bottom fishing from the little bridge on the causeway have been seeing big numbers of fat croaker recently.
Anglers fishing the sound from boats are reporting that the puppy drum and speckled trout action remains excellent. Most of the fish are falling for soft plastics, spoons, and other artifcials, but anglers can also hook up on a variety of natural baits.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront, and boaters are hooking big numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
The offshore fleet is still connecting with plenty of dolphin (and still some gaffers) on most days. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna are feeding in the blue water off the inlet as well, and some wahoo are also finding their way into boats’ fish boxes.
The billfish bite keeps heating up offshore, and boats are releasing excellent numbers of white and blue marlin along with a few sailfish.
The charterboat “Strike ‘Em” flying release flags for 19 white and one blue marlin they let go on a recent trip offshore of Oregon Inlet.
Rhonda, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats have been finding limit catches of dolphin on many recent days offshore. Wahoo and yellowfin, blackfin, and bigeye tuna are feeding offshore of the inlet as well and, like the dolphin, taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo that boats are trolling.
Boats targeting billfish are releasing big numbers of white marlin.
Nearshore boats are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront nearby. Bluefish and false albacore have been mixed in, and all are biting Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights.
Anglers fishing inshore in the sound are connecting with flounder, puppy drum, and speckled trout while working artificials and soaking live and cut baits.
Bottom fishing in Oregon Inlet has been producing plenty of action with spot, croaker, sea mullet, pigfish, and more.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of dolphin action off Oregon Inlet (with both gaffers and bailers), especially when they can find solid grasslines or other floating debris. The tuna bite remains strong as well, with good numbers of yellowfins along with a few blackfins. The wahoo bite continues to improve as well, so meatfish slams are a very real possibility for anglers trolling offshore right now. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling all three fish.
The billfish bite gets better by the week, and boats are releasing big numbers of white and (comparatively) blue marlin. Some sailfish are finding the baits in boats’ wakes as well, and the billfish are also taking an interest in ballyhoo, particularly when boats are also pulling teasers like dredges and daisy chains.
The crew of the “Uno Mas” with their winnings from the Pirate’s Cove Big Game Tournament. The anglers release nine white marlin and two sailfish to amass 770 points and take the win. Photo by Matt Lusk.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that the billfish action is incredible off Oregon Inlet right now, and double-digit numbers of white marlin releases have been happening with some consistency. Some blue marlin are feeding in the same areas, and both are biting trolled ballyhoo.
Boats targeting meatfish are finding plenty of action as well, and they’re bringing home dolphin, tuna, and wahoo from the blue water.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action with spot, pufferfish, pinfish, sea mullet, rays, and more. Shrimp, squid, bloodworms, and cut baits are all attracting attention from the bottom feeders.
Plug casters are hooking some solid spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish while working casting lures and Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Live-baiters have seen bites from king mackerel and cobia while fishing pin-rigs off the end of the pier.
