Northern Beaches – July 24, 2014
Gary Anderson and friends from Smyrna, GA, with yellowfin tuna and dolphin they hooked on skirted ballyhoo and greenstick squids while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Lee Collins and mate Mikey Fulgham on the “Strike’Em.”
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, spot, bluefish, and small flounder while bottom fishing along the northern beaches. Anglers are seeing a slightly better bite (along with some pompano) south of Oregon Inlet. Shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the action in the breakers.
Bottom fishermen are hooking much of the same from the little bridge on the Manteo causeway, along with some undersized speckled trout, while casting soft plastics.
Boaters fishing the sound are connecting with solid numbers of puppy drum and speckled trout while working soft plastic baits and other lures.
Nearshore boats are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront.
The offshore fleet continues to see excellent action with gaffer dolphin and yellowfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo out of Oregon Inlet. Some wahoo and bigeye tuna have been mixed in and are also taking an interest in boats’ baits. The billfish action keeps getting stronger, and boats are releasing some impressive numbers of blue and white marlin on offshore trips as well.
Bernadette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still seeing plenty of action with yellowfin tuna and gaffer and bailer dolphin. Most are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo the boats are pulling around offshore weedlines and rips. Some bigeye tuna (to 200+ lbs.) and wahoo are finding their way into the fish boxes as well.
Plenty of billfish are also feeding in the blue water off Oregon Inlet and finding trollers’ baits, and the fleet released big numbers of white and blue marlin last week along with the meatfish.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around Oregon Inlet and just off the breakers. Boats are catching plenty of both while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures in the area.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with gray trout, croaker, sea mullet, spot, and more.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that trollers are seeing action with yellowfin tuna and bailer dolphin while working weedlines and temperature edges off Oregon Inlet. Some wahoo have also been in the mix recently. Most of all three fish are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo. The summer/fall billfish action is kicking into gear as well, and boats are releasing blue and white marlin alongside the dolphin and tuna.
Travis Kemp, of Currituck, NC, with a 28 lb. king mackerel that struck a live bluefish on a pin rig off the end of Jennette’s Pier.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still connecting with plenty of yellowfin tuna and dolphin while offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the fish, but anglers are also finding some exciting surface action with the tuna while pulling artificial squid from ‘green-stick’ trolling rigs.
The Oregon Inlet fleet is beginning to see lots of billfish mixed in with the dolphin and tuna, and solid numbers of blue and white marlin release flags are flying from the outriggers these days.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are still seeing some excellent puppy drum action in the sound around Oregon Inlet and the northern Outer Banks. Most of the fish are falling for silver and gold Johnson spoons, spinnerbaits, and walking topwater plugs. When conditions are tough or the fish don’t want to bite the artificials, cut mullet is attracting plenty of attention from the reds.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are seeing some cobia and king mackerel action while pin-rigging live baits from the end of the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a few ribbonfish while working Gotchas.
Sea mullet, spot, pompano, pigfish, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in double drop rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
