Northern Beaches – July 2023
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers getting out at first daylight or late evening are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish on the piers and in the surf. With recent clear water conditions along the beach, somedays this bite has lasted throughout the day.
Surf anglers are also finding a good sea mullet bite while fishing sand fleas or Fishbites bait strips on short casts from the shore.
A handful of puppy drum are in the surf, with better action being found closer to the inlet.
Anglers fishing the Bonner Bridge pier have caught some sheepshead.
Nearshore anglers are still catching some cobia, but it seems that the migration is wrapping up.
King mackerel made a nice push into the area, with both nearshore trollers and pier anglers fishing live baits getting strikes.
A bunch of sharks are around and are also hitting these bait offerings.
Offshore anglers have been on an excellent yellowfin tuna bite, alongside some scattered bigeyes.
Mahi fishing has been pretty good as well now that warmer summertime water temperatures have moved into the area. Blue marlin are mixed in the offshore bite.
Inshore fishing remains strong, with puppy drum staged up on flats around the inlet and some big red drum being caught in deeper areas around the inlet and into the sound.
Speckled trout fishing has been phenomenal this year. Anglers are seeing not only great numbers, but the size of these catches are impressive.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers have been catching red drum and huge speckled trout on the inshore shallow flats. Artificials work well, but as more bait arrives, the live bait bite will start to heat up.
Some cobia are still moving off the beaches for anglers looking to sight cast. Any variety of bucktail jigs, No Live Bait Needed baits, or live bait will all entice strikes.
Sheepshead have moved in around hard structures, and they’re feeding on sand fleas.
Jasmine Fuqua, of Stoneville, NC, caught this 40″ red drum using fresh cut bait. She was fishing on the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel are running on the beaches, at times moving withing casting range of surf anglers.
A couple cobia are still in the area, mostly landed by local pier anglers.
Anglers fishing down on the Bonner Bridge pier are catching sea mullet and sheepshead, and fishing from the Little Bridge has produced a mixed bag of spot, pinfish, croakers, black drum, and speckled trout.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that surf anglers in the area have been catching tons of bluefish and sea mullet.
The local piers are still hooking a few cobia and are now seeing a nice push of king mackerel, too.
Soundside anglers continue to see a phenomenal speckled trout bite, with a bunch of citation fish being landed, and plenty of bluefish are inshore as well.
Outside the inlet, false albacore fishing has really picked up. These hard-fighting fish are holding in tight to the beach for anglers looking for sight-casting action.
Offshore runs have been producing some great yellowfin tuna action, along with mixed mahi.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that anglers have seen a great run of mahi when running offshore from Oregon Inlet.
On some days, anglers are finding that the tuna fishing has also been spectacular, with both yellowfins and a fair number of larger bigeyes mixed in.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore action has been red hot for anglers looking to experience some great tuna fishing. Boats have been catching nice-sized yellowfin tuna and mixed bigeye tuna (to 200+ lbs.).
Billfishing has also ramped up, with catches of blue marlin and sailfish, and on some days, anglers are returning to the docks with really good numbers of mahi and scattered wahoo.
Nearshore boats are finding a mix of spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, and bluefish.
Inshore anglers continue to see a great speckled trout bite, with large fish (to 30”) in the mix, and a bunch of puppy drum and bluefish are in the sound.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore trips have seen some great tuna fishing. Anglers are finding a great class of yellowfin tuna, along with large bigeyes.
Some really good catches of mahi are happening as well, with some anglers returning with easy double-digit catches. Scattered wahoo and blue marlin are being found as well.
Bottom fishing has been producing some tilefish.
Nearshore anglers are catching really good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish, and some cobia are still being spotted out there as well.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers have seen some nice, clear water along the beach, and these conditions have brought in bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing has produced flounder and sea mullet.
Brooke Forbes, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, caught this 5 lb. speckled trout using cut bait. She was fishing in the sound behind Nags Head.
Moon, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers doing some bottom fishing are catching sea mullet and throwback flounder.
When there are clean water conditions, casting plugs is producing bluefish and spanish mackerel.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing anglers along the beaches are enjoying a mixed bag of spot, sea mullet, and croakers while fishing smaller cut baits or artificial bait strips.
A handful of red drum are also being caught from the sand.
A lot of nice-sized bluefish are around as well, and they’re hitting both jigs and natural baits.
Speckled trout are scattered in the action. There aren’t many, but they are around.
Soundside fishing in the saltier water down by the inlet has produced speckled trout, puppy drum, and black drum.
Anglers fishing nearshore have been doing well while trolling around surface-feeding schools. They’re catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ribbonfish.
