Northern Beaches December 15, 2011
Kamarin Grissom (age 10) of Kill Devil Hills, and Lydia Courtwright with a 2.5 lb. speckled trout hooked off Jennette's Pier.
Nathan, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some decent striped bass fishing around the Oregon Inlet and Mann’s Harbor bridges (with fish to 30+ lbs. weighed in lately). Live eels are producing action with the larger stripers, while the smaller fish will take an interest in a variety of soft plastics and hard baits.
The ocean water temperatures are still in the 50’s, so it’s still a bit warm for the oceanic striped bass to make their way down from the Chesapeake Bay and northeast. Once the temps drop below 50, anglers should see the big stripers showing up within a few miles of the northern beaches. Casting, jigging, and trolling with a variety of bucktails, metal jigs, and diving plugs will tempt the fish to bite when they arrive.
Surf casters are connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, and speckled trout to the south around the jetties at Buxton. Large sharks are still feeding near Cape Point and taking an interest in cut baits as well.
Terry Stewart, of TW's Bait and Tackle, with a 6.7 lb. speckled trout he hooked on a live bait in the Elizabeth River hot ditch.
Offshore, boats have been connecting with good catches of yellowfin tuna when they’ve been able to make the long run. As the water continues to cool, anglers should see some bluefin tuna showing up on the cooler sides of offshore temperature breaks. Last year the fish arrived in late December, and anglers are hoping they’ll be on a similar schedule this winter.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that cooler water has slowed down the beach speckled trout bite locally, but anglers are still connecting with some specks in the surf to the south. Soft plastics and MirrOlures are top choices for the trout.
The offshore fleet is catching solid numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna to the south of the Point when the weather allows them to get there. Trolling naked and skirted ballyhoo is producing most of the action with the tuna. Bluefin tuna should be making an appearance off the area when the water cools a bit more. When mid-60’s water is over Diamond Shoals, it’s time to go looking for the bluefins, and larger horse ballyhoo trolled on top and deep behind planers will tempt them to bite.
The nearshore wrecks have been producing some consistent action with black sea bass (including some 4+ lb. citation fish). Squid on bottom rigs will tempt bites from the bass.
Todd Byrd, of Wilmington, with a wahoo that bit an experimental South Chatham Tackle wahoo lure while he was trolling in 300' of water off Oregon Inlet with Capt. Bob Gerkin on the "Hot Tuna."
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that when they’ve been able to get out to the bite, the offshore fleet has been returning to the docks with solid catches of yellowfin and blackfin tuna. A few surprises like wahoo and blue marlin are still feeding alongside the tuna. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are the best bets for the tunas.
Anglers are eagerly hoping for a repeat of last year’s red hot bluefin tuna fishing off the inlet. The fish should begin showing up over the next month or so as the water temperatures continue to fall.
Closer to the beach, bottom fishermen are connecting with black sea bass, tautogs, sharks, and more at wrecks and other bottom structure.
Inshore, anglers are finding some action with speckled trout.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that skates and dogfish are making up most of the catch from the pier at present. A few speckled trout, flounder, and pufferfish have been mixed in over the past week.
