Northern Beaches June 13, 2013
G.T. Muir with a limit of speckled trout he hooked in the sound near Kitty Hawk on a Gulp bait fished under a rattling float.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that the hot speckled trout action in the local sound continues, with waders, boaters, and anglers casting from the little bridge on the causeway getting in on the bite. Gulp baits and other soft plastics are producing most of the specks, and some puppy drum and flounder are falling for the same lures.
Bottom fishing around the little bridge is producing a mixed back of croaker, spot, black drum, and more, with shrimp and other baits on double drop rigs producing most of the action.
Surf casters are seeing plenty of southwest wind, which is slowing the action a bit, but bottom feeders like spot, croaker, and sea mullet are still present and biting rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and more.
The bottom feeders and some bluefish are coming over the rails on the local piers.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Oregon Inlet and just offshore, where boaters are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
Some cobia are also still cruising along the beachfront, around the inlet, and just offshore, where boaters are hooking them while sight-casting bucktail jigs and live baits like eels.
The offshore fleet continues to find some stellar yellowfin tuna fishing out of Oregon Inlet, and they’re returning to the dock before noon with limit catches on many recent days. Dolphin (with some gaffers to 35 lbs.) and scattered wahoo and billfish have also been in the mix recently. Most of the offshore gamefish are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still coming in early with limits of yellowfin tuna in the wake of Tropical Storm Andrea (with some to 80+ lbs.). Gaffer dolphin are also feeding offshore of the inlet and ending up in the fleet’s fish boxes (with some 30+ lbs.), and boats are also connecting with a few wahoo and billfish. Most are taking an interest in trolled ballyhoo.
Keith Johnson, Corey Tomlinson, Bryan Midgett, Ross Bricker, and Jimmy Tate with a limit of yellowfin tuna and a bonus pair of dolphin they hooked while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Lee Collins and mate Bo Davenport on the “Strike ‘Em.”
Closer to shore, boats are still finding good numbers of cobia around the inlet, along the beaches, and cruising the tideline (with fish to 90 lbs. lately). Casting bucktail jigs or live baits to fish that anglers spot on the surface is tempting good numbers of bites from the cobes.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also feeding within a few miles of shore, and anglers are boxing up good numbers (with some solid spaniards in the mix) while trolling spoons and other lures.
Bottom fishing at nearshore structure is producing some triggerfish.
Rob, of Strike ‘Em Sportfishing, reports that there have been limit catches of yellowfin tuna nearly every time the boats have made it out recently. Some gaffer dolphin are also in the mix, and both are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
A few bigeye and blackfin tuna are mixed in with the yellowfins, and boats are seeing some wahoo and blue marlin as well.
Closer to the beaches, many boats are getting sight-casting opportunities at cobia on the way in from the offshore grounds.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that there’s been a fantastic speckled trout bite in the sounds around Manteo, with action reported from Oregon Inlet all the way north to Currituck Sound.
Some scattered puppy drum are mixed in with the specks, and both are falling for soft plastic shrimp and jerkbaits fished under rattling and popping floats. Casting Z-Man Minnowz paddletail grubs on 1/8 oz. jigheads has also been effective, and anglers are hooking a few of the trout and reds on topwater plugs like Storm Chug Bugs and Rapala Skitterwalks as well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that fishing has been a bit slow due to the strong southwest winds lately, but bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, spot, pigfish, hake, skates, and more while baiting up with shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits.
Some bluefish are falling for bottom rigs and jigging lures when the water’s clean enough for the blues to find them.
The water is 69 degrees.
