Northern Beaches – August 3, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has started to pick up, and anglers are landing a wide variety of species from the suds. The list includes sea mullet, croaker, puppy drum, bluefish, spadefish, sheepshead, spot, flounder, and spanish. When bottom fishing from the surf, bloodworms and fresh shrimp has worked best. When tossing plugs for spanish and bluefish, Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers are the ticket. A few of the sea mullet have been on the larger side, with one citation fish weighed in at 1.5 lbs.
Inshore, the catch has included trout, striper, bluefish, and cobia. Targeting the popular inshore areas (like the bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway) has been producing.
Just off the beach, spanish and kings are actively feeding. Trolling Clarkspoons for the spanish and Drone spoons for the kings have been the best ways to produce action.
Offshore, the tuna fishing has started to slow down a bit, but those persisting and covering water have landed some yellowfin and blackfin tuna. Anglers have also had success landing and releasing a few blue marlin and sailfish.
Dolphin have been scattered, but they are still feeding when boats cover a lot of water and find the fish.
Wyatt Minor with a 7 lb. sheepshead. The fish fell for a fiddler crab on a Carolina rig near Oregon inlet.
Carla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are landing yellowfin and blackfin tuna in the area. A few sailfish releases have also been made. Although the action has slowed down a bit from previous weeks, those covering good amounts of water have found fish.
The nearshore spanish and bluefish bite remains steady. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs to busting fish have both been effective methods for catching both species. A few false albacore have also been in the mix.
Inshore fishing has produced speckled trout, spot, croaker, and a few flounder.
Lisa, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the offshore tuna bite has slowed down a little, but the wahoo bite has picked up. The tuna action has consisted of a few yellowfin and blackfin tuna, with the occasional mahi swimming into the spread. White marlin and sailfish have also been holding in the area, but they have been scattered.
Nearshore fishing for spanish and kings has kept anglers busy. Trolling Drone spoons and slow trolling live baits has generated double digit days. A few bluefish have also been mixed in.
Bottom fishing has produced a few tilefish.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that the speckled trout have kept anglers fishing the sound busy. Topwater plugs, live bait, and soft plastics have all worked when targeting the trout.
Those looking for flounder have had luck working marsh banks and points, and live finger mullet has been the bait of choice for the flatfish. Some big drum have made their way to the flats, and tossing spoons and plugs has been the best way to hook up.
A few cobia are still holding near the beachfront, and Meat Hog jigs have been the most productive lure. Trolling for spanish has kept anglers busy when pulling Clarkspoons behind the boat, and bottom fishing around the wrecks has produced a steady triggerfish and flounder bite.
Steven, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that the early morning spanish bite has heated up. Those tossing Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers have landed good numbers of fish.
When fishing the bottom, anglers have hooked croaker, sand perch, and spadefish. Keeper flounder have also been feeding near the pier, and cut bait or live minnows have been the ticket.
A small cobia was also caught and released.
Tim, of Nags Head Pier, reports that the spanish bite has picked up, and anglers tossing Gotcha plugs are hooking into high numbers of fish. A few bluefish have been mixed in with the spanish.
On the bottom, fishing bloodworms, fresh shrimp, or sand fleas has connected anglers with whiting, pompano, croaker, spot, spadefish, triggerfish, and small flounder.
Tracey Sawyer with a sheepshead landed underneath the Bonner Bridge.
Bob, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing the surf zone have found plenty of action with spot, croaker, whiting, and a few red drum. Fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas have been the baits of choice.
Inshore fishing has stayed steady, and speckled trout have been the main target. Focusing on marsh lines near deeper water has produced limits of fish on live minnows and soft plastics worked on the bottom. A few red drum have been mixed in in the same areas.
Anglers fishing nearshore have landed good numbers of spanish and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons. When the schools are up on top feeding, casting metal jugs (like Stingsilvers) has also worked well.
Kings are holding just off the beach. Trolling Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows has been the key to landing high numbers of fish.
Yellowfin tuna are still feeding well offshore. Those making their way out have also had success landing better numbers of sailfish and a few mahi.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers targeting spanish early in the morning have had success when tossing spoons. Those fishing the bottom with bloodworms and fresh shrimp have connected with sea mullet, croaker, spot, and flounder.
Nearshore, trolling for spanish and bluefish has provided plenty of action. Clarkspoons have been the lure of choice. A few amberjacks have been landed when dropping live baits near area reefs and wrecks.
Those venturing offshore have found a few yellowfin and blackfin tuna. Mahi have also been in the mix, but they have been scattered. Blue and white marlin, as well as sailfish, have also been holding in the area, but they’ve been scattered as well.
