Northern Beaches – July 7, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf fishermen are catching sea mullet, flounder, bluefish, and a few croakers. There was also a recent 33” drum catch off the beach near Oregon Inlet.
Anglers on the little bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway are catching trout, black drum, croaker, stripers, and flounder, with a few keeper flounder reported along the Oregon Inlet Bridge catwalk.
On the piers, fishing has been a mixed bag with sea mullet, trout, croakers, bluefish, spadefish, pompano, and small cobia. There have also been recent reports of keeper flounder and a few spanish mackerels.
Offshore anglers are connecting with nice-sized yellowfin, blackfin, and bigeye tuna. There have also been plenty of dolphin and wahoo, and lots of citations reported across the board including a 209 lb. bigeye and an 80 lb. wahoo. There have been numerous sailfish flags, too.
Inshore/nearshore boats are reporting a tremendous amount of bluefish and spanish mackerel, as well as a wide range of fish including flounder, gray trout, sea bass, pig fish, sea mullet, and shark. Nearshore trolling boats are regularly catching their share of the blues and spanish, and they also reported some 30+ lb. drum releases. A nearshore fleet from Pirates Cove Marina reported cobia, amberjack, and mahi caught.
Joe White, of Nags Head, caught this 22″ black drum at Ramp 55. Photo courtsey of TW’s Tackle.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the fishing has been exceptional. Offshore anglers have been catching a whole lot of yellowfin tuna that have been averaging 40-50 lbs., with many boats reaching their yellowfin limits on a single trip.
Gaffer dolphin are still around offshore, and they’ve had a couple of citation bigeye catches every day, including a recent 169 lb. catch. Nearshore and inshore anglers are catching amberjack, king mackerel, spanish mackerel, blues, cobia, and drum up to three miles offshore.
Norris Ayvazian, of Manns Harbor, with a 44 cobia caught off Jennettes Pier on a Stingsilver lure.
Lynn, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that there have been cobia caught that were landed on the end of the pier, and anglers are catching bluefish, spadefish, pompano, triggerfish, sea mullet, and a few keeper-sized flounder. Spot and croaker have been sparse, but there have been a few speckled trout in varying sizes, along with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Fishing has fluctuated due to recent water temperature drops and wind direction changes, but anglers are having good luck with spanish and bluefish on Gotcha plugs. The Electric Chicken pink and yellow plug has been a recent favorite, but if they’re out there and the conditions are good, any plug will work.
Tim, of Nags Head Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are catching spots, croaker, bluefish, spanish, spades, and a few triggerfish and cobia off the pier. Fishermen are having solid luck using all kinds of bait, including shrimp, squid, sand fleas, finger mullet, and artificials.
Tim, of Outer Banks Fishing Charters, reports that there have been a few big drum inshore, as well as small speckled trout, scattered gray trout keepers, and decent bottom fishing for croakers and sea mullet. Anglers are using cut bait across the board for most species, and they’re catching the inshore trout with live pinfish on popping corks.
Spanish and bluefish are being caught by trolling in the ocean, and scattered cobia are being found along the surf and off the piers in the evenings.
Ed, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the season is in full swing, and with more people out fishing, there have been more catches and even more surprises, including a recent 57 lb. 12 oz. cobia catch that was landed off the beach in Duck by a visiting novice fisherman. Other catches that have been reeled in all along the Duck shoreline include flounder (which have been mostly keepers), sea mullet, croaker, spot, scattered spanish mackerel, and a couple of red drum. There have also been several good runs of bluefish along the beach.
Anglers are having the most success with bloodworms for the bottom fish and cut mullet for blues and spanish. They are having more luck targeting flounder, blues, spanish, and several other species by throwing lures on a calm, clear day.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers along the northern beaches have been catching quite a few pompano, as well as sea mullet, croaker, spot, trout, and flounder. Bloodworms, sand fleas, and cut mullet have been working best for bait.
Offshore, yellowfin tuna and mahi are still being reeled in, while wreck fishing has resulted in amberjacks and cobia.
Inshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, and trout in and around the inlet.
