Northern Beaches – July 3, 2014
Kennedy Bowman (age 7), of Wake Forest, NC, with a 30 lb. dolphin she landed after it struck a skirted ballyhoo 45 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, bluefish, and puppy drum while surf fishing from Nags Head and the northern beaches. Shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the action.
The action is similar to the south of Oregon Inlet, but with some pompano in the mix. Anglers are also hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish from the beach while casting metal jigs.
Anglers bottom fishing from the little bridge on the causeway are hooking sea mullet, spot, and croaker on shrimp. Working Gulp baits and other artificials from the bridge is producing action with speckled trout and some flounder.
Inshore boaters are hooking good numbers of puppy drum while working artificials in the sound near Oregon Inlet. Some speckled trout have been mixed in.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding around the inlet and along the beachfront, and boats are putting together solid catches of both while trolling Clarkspoons.
The offshore fleet continues to find excellent numbers of yellowfin tuna and dolphin (with some limit catches). Some bigeye tuna (100-200 lbs.) and wahoo (a few citation 40+ lbs.) are mixed in, and all are falling for trolled ballyhoo. Boats are reporting many billfish encounters as well, and the local fleet tallied good numbers of blue and white marlin and sailfish releases last week.
Beth Rhyne, of Raleigh, with an upper-slot red drum that pounced on a soft plastic bait in the sound near Oregon Inlet while she was fishing with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Carmen, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats continue bringing in limit catches of gaffer and bailer dolphin while trolling offshore of the inlet.
The yellowfin tuna bite remains excellent as well, with big numbers of healthy yellowfins hitting the docks.
Wahoo and bigeye tuna are mixed and also taking an interest in the skirted ballyhoo that boats are trolling for the dolphin and yellowfins.
And billfish become more numerous by the week, with solid numbers of blue and white marlin releases over the past week.
Trolling small spoons around the inlet and along the beaches is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore boats are finding plenty of action with puppy drum, speckled trout, and flounder around Oregon Inlet, fooling most of the fish while casting soft plastic baits.
Bottom fishing in the inlet is producing action with more flounder, sea mullet, croaker, gray trout, and more.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the pier are connecting with good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp, squid, and cut baits are hooking triggerfish, spadefish, pompano, sea mullet, pigfish, spot, and more.
Live and cut baits fished under the pier are also attracting attention from some flounder, puppy drum, and more blues.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that anglers are seeing some phenomenal offshore action out of Oregon Inlet right now. Yellowfin tuna and dolphin are providing most of the action and meat in the box, with both falling for trolled ballyhoo.
The billfish bite is also heating up, and a recent trip featured blue and white marlin releases along with the meatfish. The bills are also taking an interest in ballyhoo.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports that anglers are hooking excellent numbers of yellowfin tuna and dolphin while trolling ballyhoo in the blue water off Oregon Inlet. Billfish are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are releasing solid numbers of blue and white marlin alongside the dolphin and tunas.
