Northern Beaches July 26, 2012
Sean Taylor, of Plymouth, NC, landed this 45 lb. king mackerel after it struck a live bluefish on a pin-rig off the end of Jennette's Pier.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, spot, and croaker while bottom fishing from the piers and surf. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling most of the panfish.
A few bluefish are also around the beachfront and taking an interest in bottom rigs and metal lures worked from the beaches and piers.
Anglers fishing the little bridge pier on the causeway are connecting with many of the same panfish, along with speckled trout many days. The trout are taking an interest in Gulp baits and other soft plastic lures.
Inshore boats fishing the sound and around Oregon Inlet are connecting with some speckled and gray trout. Soft plastic or natural baits will tempt bites from both.
Trolling small spoons and other flashy lures around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront is producing some action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with tilefish and black sea bass at nearshore wrecks.
Blue water trollers are still finding some solid mixed bag action with dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin and blackfin tuna. The billfish bite is still going as well, and good numbers of sailfish and blue and white marlin releases have been reported recently. Most of the offshore predators are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still hooking good numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo off the inlet.
Some dolphin and wahoo are mixed in and also falling for ballyhoo.
Boats targeting billfish have had plenty of luck recently as well, tallying sailfish and blue and white marlin releases over the past week. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are attracting attention from the billfish as well.
Jackson Roberson, of Robersonville, NC, with a 2 lb., 8 oz. spanish mackerel he hooked in the Ocracoke surf. Weighed in at Tradewinds Tackle.
Trolling around the inlet and along the beachfront continues to produce plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite remains solid in the sound.
Anglers bottom fishing around the inlet and in the sound are hooking up with croaker, puffers, pigfish, bluefish, and more.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that yellowfin tuna (many 50-60 lbs.) are still feeding off the inlet, with the best action around the Tuna Hole lately. An occasional dolphin or wahoo are mixed in, and anglers are also seeing blue marlin, as a pair of releases on one recent trip attests.
Ballyhoo trolled naked and under skirted lures are producing the lion’s share of the action with all the blue water predators.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some speckled trout from the pier, principally in the early morning hours.
Flounder have also been in the mix lately, taking an interest in small live and cut baits under the pier.
Bottom fishing with shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits is producing a mixed bag of spot, croaker, sea mullet, puffers, and other panfish.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings and will bite sand fleas dangled next to the structure.
A few bluefish are taking an interest in metal lures anglers are working from the pier.
