Northern Beaches – July 4, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that sea mullet, spot, and a few pompano are being caught on bottom rigs from the northern Nags Head area beaches.
Some slot-sized red drum are biting in the surf north of Oregon Inlet, and flounder are hitting soft plastics fished in the surf from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head.
Anglers in Carova reported seeing schools of spanish mackerel feeding off the beach, but none were hitting the baits and lures.
Speckled trout and spot are being caught from the little bridge in Manteo, and sound-side anglers are having success finding speckled trout along grass banks.
A few anglers are catching striped bass on 5” plastic swimbaits around the area bridges.
Bluefish are being caught in channels and deep holes behind the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
Nearshore anglers have been catching their limits of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons behind a planer.
King mackerel are beginning to show in better numbers around structure and ledges in the 5-mile range.
Anglers fishing offshore out of Oregon Inlet are having spectacular catches of large bigeye tuna (up to 195 lbs.). A few yellowfin tuna (up to 55 lbs.) are mixed in, and they’re hitting skirted ballyhoo.
Mahi are being landed in good numbers, with many trips catching close to double digits of fish.
Amiee Dean with a flounder she caught near Buxton, NC, on live bait. She weighed in at Right On 12 Tackle Shop.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers have been pleased with the numbers of huge bigeye tuna (up to 195 lbs.) being caught in the Gulf Stream. Yellowfin tuna (up to 53 lbs.) are mixed-in with the bigeyes around the temperature breaks.
Gaffer-sized dolphin (up to 20 lbs.) are being found around grass lines with ballyhoo, and wahoo are being hooked by anglers fishing baits behind a planer.
Bottom fishing nearshore has been producing good numbers of tilefish.
Inshore trips have been catching red drum from the inlet up onto the flats.
Good-sized speckled trout (up to 19”) are being caught on soft plastics around oyster beds and grass banks up towards Manteo, and legal-sized flounder are hitting Carolina-rigged live baits in deep holes around the inlet.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish are just off the beach in good numbers. Trolling spoons behind a planer and casting jigs to feeding schools are both productive tactics.
Speckled trout fishing has been great, with fish being caught from the inlet up towards Wanchese.
A few large red drum and cobia are hitting large Carolina-rigged baits around the inlet.
Puppy drum have moved onto the flats inside the inlet, and they are falling for live baits fished on the bottom.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that speckled trout are being caught in good numbers in the early mornings and late afternoons. Gulp soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads have been the most productive setup.
Keeper-sized flounder are hitting Carolina-rigged live finger mullet fished on the bottom, and some black drum are feeding on shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that citation bigeye tuna (up to 140 lbs.) and scattered yellowfin tuna are being caught out at the temperature break. A few white marlin were caught and released from the same areas.
A handful of blackfin tuna made it back to the docks (when anglers get them into the boat before the sharks get them).
Mahi fishing has been steady, with double-digits of gaffer-sized fish hitting ballyhoo, and large wahoo (up to 90 lbs.) have been caught on baits fished behind a planer.
Bottom fishing has been producing tilefish.
Nearshore trips are catching bluefish, spanish mackerel, and bonita.
Sound-side anglers are finding striped bass, sheepshead, speckled trout, flounder, and bluefish.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers fishing bottom-rigged baits are catching spot.
Bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs and Carolina-rigged mullet.
A few speckled trout are being caught with soft plastics fished on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Laurie, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers fishing baits on bottom rigs are catching a huge variety of fish, such as spot, croaker, black sea bass, spadefish, pinfish, sea mullet, and triggerfish.
Anglers keeping baits close to the pilings are landing some nice-sized sheepshead.
Small flounder are being hooked just outside the breakers with live baits and Gulp soft plastics.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are hitting Gotcha plugs cast to the edges of feeding schools.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that fishing is starting to pick up after last week’s upwelling of cold water, with bluefish hitting Gotcha plugs and Carolina-rigged cut baits.
Schools of spanish mackerel are feeding on the surface in the mornings. Gotcha plugs and casting jigs that imitate glass minnows have been catching most of the 2-4 lb. fish.
Keeper-sized flounder are being found closer to the beach with Carolina-rigged live mullet.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that pompano are being caught with sand fleas fished in deeper holes just off the sand.
Keeper flounder are hitting soft plastics and live baits fished in these same deep holes.
A few bluefish are being caught with baits fished on the bottom, and a run of clean, warm water should see the bite pick up.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching pompano and sea mullet while fishing with shrimp on bottom rigs.
Anglers casting metal jigs to feeding schools are producing some smaller (up to 3 lbs.) bluefish.
A few short founder are being caught with Gulp soft plastics fished in sloughs along the beach.
Nearshore anglers are finding spanish mackerel and small king mackerel (up to 12 lbs.) around structure in the 5-mile range.
Mahi are being caught with trolled ballyhoo around grass lines in the Gulf Stream.
