Northern Beaches July 4, 2013
Alexis Loy (age 14), of Winchester, VA, with a triggerfish that bit a Fish Bites artificial bloodworm off Jennette’s Pier.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still connecting with solid numbers of speckled trout and some puppy drum while casting soft baits like Gulps around the Manteo/Nags Head causeway.
Black drum and bottomfish like spot and croaker are feeding in the same area and taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on double-drop rigs.
Anglers are also fooling the speckled trout and puppy drum elsewhere in the sound while fishing from boats and working Gulp baits and other lures.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge, and they will take an interest in fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other crustacean baits.
Surf and pier anglers in Nags Head are primarily hooking sea mullet, croaker, and other bottomfish due to high winds and dirty water recently.
A few bluefish are falling for anglers’ baits and lures from the piers.
More blues and spanish mackerel are feeding around Oregon Inlet and off the beachfront, and boats are fooling both while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
Amberjacks are feeding around offshore structure like the towers, and they will pounce on live baits like bluefish or menhaden.
High winds have kept the offshore fleet at the docks over much of the past week, but the blue water fish are still there when they’ve been able to get out. Gaffer dolphin and yellowfin tuna are still producing the majority of the action, and boats continue to see and hook billfish as well. Some bigeye tuna and wahoo are rounding out the offshore action, and all the fish are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that inshore boats are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront. Most are taking an interest in small trolling spoons.
Brian Wilson with a bluefish that earned her first place in the Nags Head Pier Youth Fishing Tournament alogn with several trophies, a fishing rod, and a tackle box.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are feeding in the sound and taking an interest in soft plastics and live baits for anglers on the inshore boats.
Dropping live baits around wrecks and other structure a bit further offshore is producing action with amberjacks.
The offshore fleet has stayed tied to the dock on many recent days due to the winds. When they’ve been able to get out, though, the yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin bite remains solid. Both are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures. Boats have also landed a few bigeye tuna and wahoo over the past week and released scattered white and blue marlin and sailfish.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that despite the persistent southwest winds, the speckled trout bite in the sounds around Manteo remains excellent, with limit catches and plenty of releases for anglers casting Z-Man soft plastics. Working them on popping corks rigs is the way to go when the fish are feeding along shallow shorelines, and rigging the baits on jigheads is producing results in deeper water.
Puppy drum are feeding in many of the same areas and will pounce on the Z-Man baits or Gulp shrimp.
Rob, of Strike’Em Sportfishing, reports that gaffer dolphin and yellowfin tuna are still feeding offshore of Oregon Inlet and providing plenty of action when the weather lets boats get offshore. Some wahoo and billfish are mixed in, and all of the blue water gamefish are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with a steady pick of spot, croaker, pigfish, sea mullet, and more while soaking shrimp and bloodworms from the pier. Plenty of stingrays and skates are mixed in.
Southwest winds have caused upwelling which has brought the water temperature down to 63 degrees.
