Northern Beaches July 25, 2013
Tom Gilliam with an 8 lb. sheepshead that bit a live fiddler crab around Oregon Inlet.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of spot and other bottomfish like croaker and sea mullet from the local surf and piers. Bloodworms and shrimp on double-drop rigs are fooling most of the bottom feeders.
Anglers casting soft plastics inshore are still connecting with speckled trout and some puppy drum from the little bridge on the causeway and from boats in the sounds.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around the Bonner Bridge and taking an interest in sand fleas and other baits dangled close to the pilings.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront, and both are falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Boats fishing the same areas are still seeing some cobia and hooking them on bucktail jigs and live baits.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with triggerfish at nearshore structure. Amberjacks are feeding around the towers and other structure between the beach and blue water, and they have a tough time turning down live baits. The wrecks further from the beaches are producing big numbers of tilefish and sea bass.
Tom Jenkins landed this 88 lb. cobia just off Oregon Inlet while fishing with Capt. Aaron Kelly on the “Rock Solid.” Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
The offshore fleet is still hooking big numbers of yellowfin tuna (with a solid class of fish to 100+ lbs. this past week). Dolphin are also still feeding in the area in big numbers and limit catches are finding their way into the fish boxes on many days.
A few blue marlin are also looking for meals offshore, and all the pelagics are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still seeing cobia around Oregon Inlet and along the beaches, and they’re hooking them while sight-casting.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent lately for anglers trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy metal lures.
Each day seems to bring a bit different bite offshore, with yellowfin tuna dominating one day, dolphin the next, and a healthy mix of both on many trips. A few bigeye tuna and wahoo are also coming over the gunnels. Blue and white marlin and sailfish are feeding offshore, too, and anglers are hooking the meat and billfish on ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Aaron Hasicoglu, of Lancaster, PA, with a 7′ sand tiger shark that bit a tuna head in the surf off Duck. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite is still going strong in the sounds around Manteo (with solid keepers on up to fish in the 20-24” range). Most are falling for Gulp and Z-Man soft baits. Fishing them under popping corks has been the best bet in the shallows, while bouncing them off the bottom on jigheads is producing results in deeper water.
Rob, of Strike ‘Em Sportfishing, reports that boats are still hooking big numbers of dolphin while trolling ballyhoo and bailing smaller fish on squid and cut baits offshore of Oregon Inlet. Some yellowfin tuna are in the mix, and sailfish and white and blue marlin are mixed in as well. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the offshore predators.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking bottomfish like spot, croaker, pigfish, sea mullet, and triggerfish while baiting up with bloodworms, shrimp, and other offerings.
Some bluefish are biting bottom rigs and metal lures that anglers are working.
When the water’s warm and clear, some spanish mackerel have been mixed in with the blues, and anglers also hooked some cobia last week.
The water is 62 degrees.
