Northern Beaches – August 7, 2014
Josh Tolson, of Manteo, with a 33 lb. king mackerel caught in the midst of an early August king run for live-baiters fishing off Jennette’s Pier. A live threadfin herring fooled the king.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf casters fishing between and through the rain showers recently have been connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, and other panfish in the surf along the northern beaches. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling most of the fish. The beach bite has been a bit better to the south on Hatteras, where some bluefish and flounder are joining the action.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are also finding panfish action along with a few black drum and speckled trout.
The specks and puppy drum are still biting in the sound around Manteo and Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking both while working soft plastic baits and other artificials.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around Oregon Inlet, and boats are hooking good numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Cobia, red drum, and amberjacks are looking for meals just off the beaches, and open boats are hooking all three on sight-cast bucktail jigs and live baits.
The offshore fleet is seeing some excellent billfish action, with big numbers of white and blue marlin releases for local boats. Plenty of meatfish are still around as well, and good numbers of yellowfin tuna and dolphin (gaffers and bailers) are making their way into the fish boxes. Bigeye tuna are still around as well, and boats have landed several over the past week (with some 200+ lbs.). All the blue water predators are biting naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Melissa, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the fleet is returning from offshore trips with solid numbers of gaffer dolphin and yellowfin tuna in the fish boxes. Most of both are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo in the boats’ wakes. Bigeye tuna are still feeding offshore and falling for the same baits as well (with fish to 222 lbs. last week). The billfish bite just keeps getting better, and the fleet’s produced double-digit numbers of white marlin releases most days they’ve been able to get out lately. Some blue marlin and a few sailfish release flags have also been flying from the outriggers.
Boats trolling closer to the beachfront are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Clarkspoons.
Some cobia and red drum have also been feeding just off the beachfront and falling for sight-cast bucktail jigs.
The puppy drum and speckled trout action is still going strong in the sound for anglers casting soft plastics and other artificial lures.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with sea mullet, croaker, spot, flounder, and more.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the puppy drum action in the sound just won’t quit, and anglers caught big numbers on gold spoons and a variety of other artificials last week.
The speckled trout action has been heating up as well, with some limit catches recently. The specks are taking an interest in soft plastic baits fished on jigheads and under popping corks, along with other baits and lures.
A few citation-class reds are in the same areas as the specks and puppy drum and making for fun fights on the light tackle.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, spot, and other panfish while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some bluefish are biting baits and casting lures like Gotcha plugs, and a few spanish mackerel are joining in when the water’s clean.
Live-baiters fishing the end of the pier had a strong week last week, decking good numbers of king mackerel and a few cobia.
The water is 74 degrees.
