Northern Beaches July 7, 2011
Scott Wahl, from Centreville, VA, with a 9' sand tiger shark he caught and released from the beach at Duck. Photo courtesy of TW's Bait and Tackle.
Nathan, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that a wind switch dirtied the water last weekend, slowing the fishing a bit.
When the water was clean last week, anglers found some flounder, bluefish, and spanish mackerel along the beaches and off the piers.
Surf bottom fishing has been producing some action with croaker, spot, and sea mullet, with a few pompano in the mix to the south. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling the bottom feeders.
The sheepshead bite is still on around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge, where anglers are hooking the fish on sand fleas. The bite has been up-and-down with the tides lately, with the first and last parts of the falling water producing the best fishing.
A few large flounder have also been hooked in Oregon Inlet.
Offshore, some cloudy days last week produced decent bigeye tuna action. Some yellowfins have been in the mix, and boats are still filling the fish boxes with bailer and gaffer dolphin. There’s also been a decent billfish bite, with boats reporting action with white and blue marlin and sailfish this week.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that inshore boats have been finding solid action with speckled trout in the sound lately.
Nearshore, anglers are connecting with triggerfish and amberjacks on the wrecks and other structure.
Trolling along the beaches and just off the inlet has been producing action with bluefish, spanish mackerel, and some false albacore. Small Clarkspoons are producing most of the action.
Sharks are feeding nearshore as well, and anglers can hook them on large cut baits.
Offshore, the dolphin bite continues to be solid, with boats bringing back big numbers of gaffers and bailers. Decent numbers of yellowfin tuna are mixed in, and the bigeye tuna bit over several days last week as well. Several wahoo have also taken the icy ride back to the docks lately (including a huge 90 lb. fish.).
Billfish are joining the offshore action, and boats released blue and white marlin and sailfish last week.
Skirted and naked ballyhoo are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Andy Elliott, of Roxboro, NC, with a 23" spanish mackerel that fell for a dead cigar minnow on a Blue Water Candy dead bait rig at AR-315.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishermen are finding action with sea mullet, croaker, spot, and a few pompano while soaking shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas just off the beaches.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding just past the breakers, and anglers can hook them on Gotcha plugs and metal jigs from the beach and piers. They can also be found while trolling Clarkspoons from boats.
Blacktips and other large sharks are feeding near Oregon Inlet and along the beaches. Large cut baits on heavy wire leaders are the way to go for the big biters.
Flounder, speckled trout, and puppy drum are all feeding around the marsh islands in the sounds, and working Gulp baits along shorelines and around inshore structure like oyster rocks and docks will tempt bites from all three.
Offshore boats are still finding plenty of action with dolphin. Some tuna and billfish are in the mix, and all the blue water predators will take an interest in rigged ballyhoo and trolling lures.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports that anglers are still limiting out on dolphin (with some gaffers to 30 lbs.) while trolling in the blue water.
Some yellowfin tuna have been in the mix, and boats have been seeing a few wahoo lately, too.
Skirted and naked ballyhoo will tempt bites from all the Gulf Stream gamefish.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching spot, croaker, some sea mullet, and a few triggerfish while bottom fishing with shrimp, squid, and bloodworms.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish have been feeding around the pier when the warmer, clear water has been close to the beach. Gotcha plugs and other metal casting lures will fool the spanish and blues.
