Northern Beaches July 28, 2011
Jake Worthington, of Camden, NC, with his first wahoo, a 54" fish that fell for a naked ballyhoo offshore of Oregon Inlet while he was fishing on the "Sea Spud."
Britton, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers on the northern beaches are connecting with plenty of bottomfish like spot, croaker, and sea mullet while casting shrimp and bloodworms. Some smaller bluefish have been mixed in.
Anglers are also finding spot and croaker back in the sound around Little Bridge, and some speckled trout are feeding in the area as well. Scented soft plastics like Gulp baits will tempt bites from the specks.
Inshore around Oregon Inlet, anglers are also finding speckled trout and some flounder. Soft plastics or live baits will fool both.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlet, and both will take a hearty interest in trolled Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
The offshore fleet is finding some solid dolphin and yellowfin tuna fishing along with a few marlin encounters.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a surprising showing of yellowfin tuna offshore of the area for July. Boats are also catching big numbers of dolphin, and the white marlin bite is turning on as well. Trolling skirted and naked ballyhoo is the way to go for all the blue water pelagics.
Amberjacks are schooled up around the towers off Oregon Inlet, and anglers looking to battle one of the brutes can tempt them to bite live baits like bluefish.
The nearshore wrecks are holding plenty of triggerfish. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will attract plenty of attention from the triggers.
Patrick Zydron with a 7.5 lb. sheepshead he hooked from the Bonner Bridge. Weighed in at TW's Bait and Tackle.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are feeding in cleaner water in and around Oregon Inlet. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting small metal jigs at feeding schools of fish will draw strikes from all three.
Surf fishermen are finding plenty of action with smaller bottomfeeders, including spot, croaker, and sea mullet, along with some schools of smaller bluefish. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling the fish in the breakers.
Flounder and some scattered speckled trout are feeding in Oregon Inlet and back in the sounds, and Gulp baits or other soft plastics on jigheads will tempt them to bite.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that both yellowfin tuna and dolphin are taking an interest in ballyhoo and lures trolled offshore of the inlet in good numbers. Some boats and days are seeing better numbers of dolphin, some are seeing better numbers of tuna, and some are split down the middle.
Boats are still encountering decent numbers of sailfish and blue and white marlin while targeting billfish, and several bigeye tuna were landed last week as well.
Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel and bluefish trolling remains solid for boats pulling Clarkspoons in and just off the inlet.
Inshore bottom fishing is producing more bluefish, some speckled trout, and flounder.
Julie Fielder (age 8) with a pair of dolphin she hooked while trolling off Beaufort Inlet with Capt. Rocky Hardison on the "O Lucky Me."
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottomfish—including spot, croaker, hake, and sea mullet—are making up the majority of the recent catch. Shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs are getting their attention.
Some flounder are also coming over the rails, mostly for anglers fishing live baits.
A few bluefish are in the mix and falling for a variety of baits as well.
