Northern Beaches – July 10, 2014
Capt. Lee Collins and mate Mikey Fulgham with a 697 lb. bluefin tuna that attacked a skirted ballyhoo and was landed by Herb Mills while they were trolling off Oregon Inlet on the “Strike’Em” out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding action with sea mullet, spot, and puppy drum while casting bottom rigs from the sand north of Oregon Inlet. Some pompano and sheepshead are mixed in to the south. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits have been producing most of the action along the beachfront.
Pier anglers are hooking much of the same while bottom fishing, along with good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are hooking some spot and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms. Some speckled trout are falling for Gulp baits and other artificials that anglers are working.
Puppy drum fishing is still excellent in the sound, and boats are hooking limits while casting soft plastics, spoons, and other lures. Speckled trout action has been solid as well, with good numbers mixed in with the pups.
Nearshore trollers are hooking solid numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while pulling Clarkspoons around Oregon Inlet and just off the beachfront.
The offshore fleet has made it out since the storm and found the blue water bite remains hot. Big numbers of dolphin made up the majority of the catch early in the week, but boats also boxed up some solid catches of yellowfin tuna as well. A few wahoo and billfish are mixed in and all the offshore predators are biting trolled ballyhoo.
Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that after staying at the docks for a few days during Hurricane Arthur, anglers have made it back offshore of Oregon Inlet and are still finding some solid fishing. Limit catches of dolphin (with many gaffers) were common, and boats are also seeing action with yellowfin tuna and some wahoo. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the blue water pelagics.
Richard and Zeb Wilcox, of Wilkes County, NC, with a 22″ flounder they hooked form Jennette’s Pier.
Good numbers of billfish were mixed in with the meatfish before the storm, and the sailfish and white and blue marlin action should get back on track in the coming week.
Bottom fishing offshore has produced plenty of tilefish since the weather as well.
Boats trolling Clarkspoons and other lures nearshore are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore boaters are connecting with puppy drum and some speckled trout while working soft plastic baits, spoons, and other lures in the sound around Oregon Inlet.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that anglers continue to catch big numbers of dolphin while trolling off Oregon Inlet, but the big news last week was a near-700 lb. bluefin tuna that anglers landed while fishing for yellowfins and dolphin.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers have found some clean blue water and some excellent dolphin action in the wake of Hurricane Arthur (with big numbers of fish and some pushing 30+ lbs.)
The yellowfin tuna bite remains solid, with anglers landing good numbers of tunas as well. A few wahoo are also in the mix, and all the pelagic predators are biting naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports anglers are hooking sea mullet, spot, pigfish, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Good numbers of puppy drum have also been mixed in on some recent days.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are biting Gotcha plugs and other casting lures that anglers are working from the pier. One angler even landed a dolphin while plugging last weekend.
The water is 68 degrees.
