Northern Beaches – June 12, 2014
Ethan Jensen (age 7), of South Mills, NC, with a 25″ puppy drum that struck a red/white Gotcha plug he was working from Outer Banks Pier while fishing with his father.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that the puppy drum action in the surf just won’t quit, and anglers soaking baited bottom rigs or working soft plastics in the suds are connecting with the pups from Hatteras to Corolla. Anglers are also connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and bluefish along the northern beaches on cut baits, shrimp, and bloodworms. Some flounder are mixed in on baits and lures around Oregon Inlet.
Anglers fishing the little bridge on the causeway are connecting with some sea mullet, small flounder, and a few puppy drum. Most are coming on bait, but the pups will hit a variety of artificials as well.
Boaters fishing the sound are connecting with solid catches of puppy drum and speckled trout, and the trout season opens next week for anglers looking to take a few home. Soft baits like Gulps are producing most of the action with the reds and specks.
Anglers bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet are hooking some spot, croaker, sea mullet, and a few more speckled trout.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. Crustacean baits like sand fleas will attract attention from the sheeps.
Nearshore boaters are still seeing a few cobia, but the bite has slowed somewhat in recent days. Trolling spoons around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Amberjack, dolphin, and some large bluefish are feeding around structure a bit further out in the ocean and biting a variety of baits and lures.
Ron Rhinders and friends from NY with a large catch of yellowfin tuna they hooked while trolling south of Oregon Inlet near the Point with Capt. Dave Peck on the “Skiligal” out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Bottom fishing at wrecks and other offshore structure is producing plenty of black sea bass and more amberjacks. Further offshore, big hauls of tilefish are coming over the rails.
The blue water fleet is finding big action with yellowfin tuna, and boats saw many limit catches last week. Gaffer dolphin are still around and biting as well, and boats have seen a few wahoo, bigeye tuna, and mako sharks to add to the excitement. All the blue water predators are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet has been returning to the docks with limits of yellowfin tuna on many recent days. Gaffer dolphin are still in the mix, and anglers are hooking a few large wahoo, bigeye tunas, and mako sharks while trolling for the tuna and dolphin. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling all the offshore gamefish.
Billfish are feeding alongside the meatfish, and boats released a blue marlin and several whites last week.
Closer to the beaches, anglers bottom fishing at wrecks and other structure are connecting with sea bass, tilefish, and amberjacks.
Cobia action has slowed a bit, but anglers are still finding some of the fish cruising along the beachfront and hooking them on sight-cast bucktail jigs and live baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beaches and around Oregon Inlet. Boats are putting together solid hauls of both fish while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and torpedo weights.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the tuna bite has turned on this week, and anglers have been hooking big numbers of yellowfins while trolling to the southeast of the inlet.
Gaffer dolphin are still around as well, and boats who target the dolphin over tuna are connecting with some good catches.
White marlin have been surprising anglers trolling for the tuna and biting the same ballyhoo and skirted lures that boats are pulling.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding some excellent sight-casting action with red drum in the sound around Oregon Inlet. Most are upper-slot fish, and they’re falling for Z-Man soft plastics and a variety of other baits and lures.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish, sea mullet, spot, gray trout, puppy drum, triggerfish, a few keeper flounder, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp, cut baits, and bloodworms.
Casters working lures like Gotcha plugs are finding action with more blues and some large spanish mackerel when the water’s clean.
