Northern Beaches – July 21, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf fishermen are catching sea mullet, spot, and croaker, as well as scattered small bluefish and a few pompano.
Anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway are catching trout (including both keepers and smaller throw-backs), black drum, flounder, croaker, and stripers.
Nearshore and inshore vessels have caught a slew of bluefish and spanish mackerel, as well as a solid amount of red drum in the inshore waters. There have also been cobias, sharks, and plenty of bottom fish landed by local head boats. King mackerel, albacore, amberjack, spadefish, and flounder (including a recent fish measuring over 22”) have also all been recently reported in the inshore and nearshore waters.
Offshore vessels are limiting out on dolphin and catching a generous amount of yellowfins. Other catches of note offshore include wahoo, tilefish, and scattered blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish releases.
Cole Baldwin with a 57.12 lb. cobia he caught while fishing in the surf in Duck. The fish was landed on 10 lb. test and a stingsilver.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore charters are still catching a lot of large yellowfin tuna, which is surprising for this time of year. Mahi have also been showing back up in large numbers, and most offshore vessels are landing their limits on a regular basis.
Inshore and nearshore charters are catching a lot of bluefish, as well as spanish mackerel, amberjack, cobia, and scattered red drum.
Michelle, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have regularly been catching spots, triggerfish, and spadefish using shrimp, bloodworms, and Gotcha plugs. Also, a 22 lb. and a 49 lb. cobia hit the planks.
Brian, of Wave Runner Sportfishing Charters, reports that yellowfin tuna fishing has been solid, mainly on the kites. There have also been mahi in the lower 400s, and a few sailfish and white marlin are showing up in the offshore waters as well
Tim, of Nags Head Fishing Pier, reports that fishing off the pier has been a mixed bag, with bluefish, croaker, spot, spadefish, sheepshead, and sharks reported. There has even been a tarpon and cobia landed.
Tim, of Outer Banks Fishing Charters, reports that there has been great speckled trout fishing right inside the inlet back on the flats, as well as lots of drum inside the inlet (with the drum in the 30-35 lb. range).
Anglers have also been catching bluefish and spanish mackerel up and down the beach, and there have been scattered dolphin out on the towers and all around the wrecks.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishermen are catching a lot of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel when the water has been clear. Flounder are also regularly being caught on Gulp baits and Carolina rigs, and with water temperatures in the low 80s, fishermen are consistently catching spot, croaker, and sea mullet all along the beaches.
Anglers on the piers are catching about the same, as well as a few nice-sized cobias.
Sound boats in the inlet are catching speckled trout, and a few drum are starting to show up as well. Inshore vessels are also finding spanish mackerel and bluefish, and they are sight casting for cobia just a couple miles out.
Offshore, the tuna bite has been unusually strong, especially the yellowfins which continue to hang around, and offshore anglers are also catching plenty of mahi.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the fishing in the northern beaches has been solid, with really clean warm waters and easterly winds, and as a result there have been a number of pompano, a lot of bluefish schools, and typical bottom fish including sea mullet, croaker, spot, and flounder. The fishing is changing daily, but plain rigs or rigs with a little color are working most of the time.
Offshore charter boats are landing a lot of yellowfin tuna and mahi, while the wreck fishing has produced tilefish, sea bass, and scattered amberjack.
Inshore vessels are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish, and they’ve hit some big schools of red drum. Head boats and charter boats in the inlet are catching flounder, sea trout, croaker, spot, and black drum.
