Northern Beaches August 4, 2011
Randy Mores, of Williamsburg, VA, with a 30" red drum he caught and released in the Ocracoke surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Terry, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are still catching plenty of spot, croaker, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders on bloodworms, shrimp, and Fish Bites baits.
Schools of bluefish (most 1-2 lbs.) are feeding in the surf zone and taking an interest in small spoons early and late in the day.
Anglers are still connecting with some sheepshead while dangling sand fleas along the pilings of Bonner Bridge.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just off Oregon Inlet, and many boats caught limits last week while trolling Clarkspoons.
Cobia also made a showing last week, and boaters landed surprising numbers for this late in the year while sight-casting to cruising fish just off the beaches.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite is still on in the sound (with better numbers of keeper fish). Gulp baits and other soft plastics are fooling the specks.
Offshore boats are still finding consistent action with bailer dolphin. There’s been some good yellowfin tuna fishing when boats are able to find the schools of fish as well, with most of the action coming around the Point.
Boats running to the northeast of the inlet are finding a decent billfish bite.
The blue water predators are biting ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the dolphin bite is still solid offshore of Oregon Inlet. Last week also produced some good yellowfin tuna fishing, and boats are finding an up-and-down billfish bite while trolling offshore as well.
Naked and skirted ballyhoo are getting attention from the blue water gamefish.
Some amberjacks are feeding on the wrecks off the inlet, and live baits like bluefish will tempt them to bite.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding in and just outside Oregon Inlet, and boaters are hooking solid numbers while trolling Clarkspoons off the inlet.
Blacktip sharks are feeding in the same areas and will bite cut or dead baits.
Surf casters are catching plenty of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel early and late in the day while working small metal lures.
Sea mullet, croaker, and spot are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms in the surf, and warmer water also led to some catches of pompano last week.
The Fruci family, from Chesapeake, VA, celebrate a catch of dolphin and a sailfish release they connected with while fishing out of Teach's Lair Marina on the "Hattitude" with Capt. Randy Turner. Photo courtesy of Todd Midgett.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that big numbers of bailer dolphin and some gaffers are still feeding strong offshore of the inlet.
Some larger yellowfin tuna have been mixed in most days as well.
A few boats are finding action with bigeye tuna (most 100-200 lbs.), and the billfish bite has been up-and-down, with some days producing impressive numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin releases.
Amberjacks are feeding around the wrecks and towers off the inlet, and live baits are tough for them to turn down.
Cobia made a bit of a showing last week, and boats decked some (to 70 lbs.) while sight-casting to fish just off the beaches last week.
Closer to the beaches, boats are still putting together solid catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons along the beaches and just off the inlet.
Some false albacore are mixed in with the blues and spaniards, and anglers have been hooking a few on fly rods along with the trolled spoons.
Inshore bottom fishing has been producing plenty of action with croaker and some decent catches of flounder.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin bite is still solid offshore of Oregon Inlet (with plenty of bailers and some larger gaffers still in the mix). Yellowfin tuna have been making a solid showing lately as well, and most days are producing good catches of tuna along with the dolphin.
A few wahoo have been in the mix recently, too.
All the blue water meatfish are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot, croaker, pigfish, triggerfish, and other bottom feeders while baiting up with shrimp, squid, and bloodworms.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for small metal lures worked quickly from the pier.
