Northern Beaches – July 16, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers continue to catch panfish like spot and sea mullet while casting baits in the surf off the northern Outer Banks. Shrimp and Fish Bites baits are some of the best bets.
Some bluefish are falling for the same baits, and clear, calm water recently means anglers may be able to tempt blues and spanish mackerel into biting metal casting lures fished from the beach.
Those fishing the little bridge on the causeway are hooking a few legal speckled trout and flounder on live baits and soft plastics.
Boaters bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet are connecting with a variety of fish including flounder, bluefish, gray trout, spot, croaker, sea mullet, and more.
Sheepshead are feeding around the Bonner Bridge and other structure near the inlet, and they’re biting live sand fleas and other crustacean baits.
Anglers fishing nearshore are hooking solid numbers of amberjack on live baits and artificial lures.
A few cobia are still around nearshore and biting anglers’ offerings.
The offshore fleet continues to connect with good numbers of dolphin and yellowfin tuna, along with some king mackerel, wahoo, and bigeye tuna (to 200+ lbs.). Billfishing remains solid in the blue water, with boats tallying many releases of sailfish and blue and white marlin over the previous week.
Stephen Strader, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, with a dolphin he hooked while live-baiting from the end of Nags Head Pier.
Norma, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are connecting with bigeye and yellowfin tuna and gaffer and bailer dolphin on offshore trips out of the inlet right now. Some wahoo, king mackerel, and billfish are also taking an interest in boats’ trolling spreads, and many sailfish and blue and white marlin have been released over the past week. Most of the billfish and meatfish are biting naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Nearshore boats are finding schools of amberjack feeding around structure off the inlet and fooling them with baits and lures.
Bottom fishing around the inlet has been producing fast action with sea mullet, croaker, spot, sea bass, puffers, keeper flounder, and more.
Boats targeting the pilings of the Bonner Bridge have been putting together some good catches of sheepshead.
Jared Bugaj, of Wooster, Ohio, with a 146 lb. bigeye tuna he hooked while on a trolling trip out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center aboard the “Escape.”
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of yellow and blackfin tuna along with some skipjacks while pulling tuna spreads offshore of Oregon Inlet at present.
Targeting dolphin has been productive as well, with plenty of bailers and some gaffers looking for meals offshore, especially around weedlines and other floating objects.
Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the offshore predators.
Anglers are also hooking the smaller dolphin on squid and cut baits fished on lighter gear when schools pop up around the boat or under the weeds.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have landed several cobia while live-baiting from the end of the pier recently.
Good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and other casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with croaker, bluefish, spot, sea mullet, and other panfish.
The water is 73 degrees.
