Northern Beaches – July 17, 2014
Joe Haskett with a 24″ speckled trout he hooked in the sound near Manteo. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing in the surf along the northern beaches. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling both panfish.
Some pompano, bluefish, and puppy drum have been in the surf mix south of Oregon Inlet.
Anglers casting artificial lures like Gulp baits from the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported some solid speckled trout action last weekend. Some croaker and spot are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Boaters fishing the sound around Oregon Inlet and Manteo are also finding big numbers of specks, mostly on soft plastic baits. There’s also still some solid puppy drum fishing in the sound.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet has been producing action with sea mullet, spot, croaker, flounder, and more.
Boaters trolling around Oregon Inlet are connecting with plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel, mostly on small spoons.
Cobia and red drum are feeding in the nearshore waters, where boaters are sight-casting bucktail jigs and live baits to both with success.
Tristan Fluharty with a 17″ black drum that bit shrimp on a bottom rig while he was fishing the little bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway.
Amberjacks are looking for meals around nearshore structure as well and taking an interest in live baits and artificials.
The offshore fleet continues to find solid action with dolphin (many limit catches) and yellowfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo in the blue water off the inlet.
Some recent days have also produced excellent wahoo action, and boats continue to encounter some billfish, releasing blue and white marlin as well.
Carmen, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore boats continue to find limit catches of bailer (and some gaffer) dolphin. Yellowfin tuna are making a solid showing on many days as well. Some fat wahoo (many 40+ lbs.) have been in the mix and falling for the naked and skirted ballyhoo that are fooling the other blue water gamefish.
The billfish action continues, and anglers released blue and white marlin along with a few sailfish while trolling the Gulf Stream last week.
Nearshore action has been hot, with large red drum, cobia, and amberjack falling for artificials and live baits that boats are fishing within 10 miles of the beachfront.
Trolling around the inlet is producing solid catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel when the water’s clean.
Trish Lunsford, of Staunton, VA, with a pair of triggerfish she hooked from Jennette’s Pier.
Anglers bottom fishing in the inlet are hooking big numbers of sea mullet, croaker, spot, and flounder.
Inshore boaters are also finding plenty to talk about, with a stellar puppy drum bite still going on in the sound. Speckled trout and bluefish are also in the mix, and all are falling for soft plastic lures and live baits.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing a solid yellowfin bite off the inlet while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures (like sea witches) around the Point and other blue water hotspots off Oregon Inlet.
Gaffer and bailer dolphin are still plentiful off the inlet as well, and anglers are hooking them on trolled ballyhoo and while pitching squid and cut baits to schools of smaller fish.
Wahoo are joining in on the action on some days to complete the meatfish slam.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that mid and upper-slot red drum are still providing plenty of thrills for anglers fishing the sound around Oregon Inlet. Most are falling for gold spoons, as well as soft plastic baits fished on jigheads and popping cork rigs, that anglers are working on the flats and around drop-offs.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing from the pier are connecting with some spot, croaker, sea mullet, bluefish, sand perch, and other bottom feeders. Bloodworms, shrimp, and squid are fooling most of the fish.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier are connecting with more bluefish and some spanish mackerel when the water’s clean.
One angler landed a 29.5 lb. cobia while live-baiting off the end of the pier last week.
