Northern Beaches – December 14, 2017
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has provided anglers with plenty of action. Sea mullet are spread out up and down the beach and have been biting a variety of baits. Cut shrimp, sand fleas, and Fishbites have all worked well to land a cooler full.
Plenty of puppy drum and a few over-slot drum are also moving up and down the beach. Anglers have found most of the reds have hit cut mullet fished on the bottom. Good numbers of bluefish are also hitting the cut mullet, and a few flounder have been feeding in the surf as well.
Inshore, the red drum and speckled trout bite is slowing down, as most fish are headed to the ocean. A few fish are still sticking around the marshes, however, and cut baits and Gulp soft plastics have gotten the job done.
A few stripers have been landed in the sound, and soft plastics have worked best for them.
Offshore, anglers are hooking into blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and a few dolphin.
Moving into the winter months, the red drum and speckled trout bite should remain steady in the surf. Anglers can target them with soft plastics worked slowly.
Offshore, the blackfin tuna and wahoo bite are likely to continue where the water is a little warmer.
Finley Cain (age 12) with a red tagged red drum caught surf fishing near Nags Head.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers headed offshore have found a good mix of fish. Blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi, and citation-sized wahoo have all been feeding well. A few billfish have also been spotted.
Inshore, the trout bite has been off and on, but the striper and sheepshead bite has improved. Anglers are finding plenty of action with both species.
Heading into the winter, look for the tuna fishing to remain steady, with yellowfin, blackfin, bigeye, and bluefins all making appearances.
The nearshore bite will slow down in general, but black sea bass should provide plenty of action through the next few months.
Raven, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that blackfin tuna, yellowfins, citation-sized wahoo, and a few mahi are still feeding well offshore. Anglers have also noted a few billfish still in the area.
In the sound, striper, trout, and flounder have all been landed. Fishing Gulp soft plastics and a variety of cut baits has worked well for all the inshore species.
As winter approaches, look for the tuna bite to improve, with bigeye, blackfin, yellowfin, and bluefins in the mix.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that inshore creeks are providing action with striper, speckled trout, and puppy drum. A mix of soft plastics, twitch baits, popping corks, and topwater plugs have all worked well.
Some big red drum are still feeding on the flats (in the afternoons).
In the surf, small bluefish, trout, and red drum have started to bunch up. Casting MirrOlures or fishing cut mullet has worked best for the surf species.
Ryan, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching a variety of fish from the pier. Bluefish, sea mullet, gray trout, flounder, black drum, blowfish, and striper have all been landed. A variety of cut baits and Fishbites have gotten the job done.
As the water temperature drops below 55 degrees with the approaching winter weather, most of these fish will move away from the pier. Dogfish and skates will be the main targets from the pier at that point (until the warming spring months).
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has remained steady. Anglers are landing speckled trout and red drum on a mix of artificial lures and cut baits. When soaking cut baits, they’ve also landed good numbers of bluefish looking for an easy meal.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf is still holding lots of bait, and the puppy drum and speckled trout are feeding well. Casting cut baits or soft plastics has fooled both into eating.
Around the inlets, the drum bite has held steady. Soaking cut mullet on the bottom has been the best way to draw strikes from the drum.
Just off the beach, the king bite is still going strong. Trolling dead cigar minnows has provided plenty of action for anglers making their way out.
Offshore, the yellowfin and blackfin tuna bite has picked up.
Heading into the winter months, look for the striper bite to heat up in Mann’s Harbor and from the surf. Just off the beach, bluefin tuna should be making their way through the area well into February (and maybe even March).
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that inshore creeks are providing action with striper, speckled trout, and puppy drum. A mix of soft plastics, twitch baits, popping corks, and topwater plugs have all worked well.
Some big red drum are still feeding on the flats (in the afternoons).
In the surf, small bluefish, trout, and red drum have started to bunch up. Casting MirrOlures or fishing cut mullet has worked best for the surf species.
Ryan, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching a variety of fish from the pier. Bluefish, sea mullet, gray trout, flounder, black drum, blowfish, and striper have all been landed. A variety of cut baits and Fishbites have gotten the job done.
As the water temperature drops below 55 degrees with the approaching winter weather, most of these fish will move away from the pier. Dogfish and skates will be the main targets from the piers at that point (until the warming spring months).
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has remained steady. Anglers are landing speckled trout and red drum on a mix of artificial lures and cut baits. When soaking cut baits, they’ve also landed good numbers of bluefish looking for an easy meal.
Mikey Sabadic with a striped bass that fell for a Z-Man soft plastic near a marsh in the Outerbanks.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf is still holding lots of bait, and the puppy drum and speckled trout are feeding well. Casting cut baits or soft plastics has fooled both into eating.
Around the inlets, the drum bite has held steady. Soaking cut mullet on the bottom has been the best way to draw strikes from the drum.
Just off the beach, the king bite is still going strong. Trolling dead cigar minnows has provided plenty of action for anglers making their way out.
Offshore, the yellowfin and blackfin tuna bite has picked up.
Heading into the winter months, look for the striper bite to heat up in Mann’s Harbor and from the surf. Just off the beach, bluefin tuna should be making their way through the area well into February (and maybe even March).
