Northern Beaches – June 2023
Travis, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have being seeing a really good speckled trout bite, with quality fish (to 5.9 lbs.) not being out of the norm.
There are some big bluefish (to 5+ lbs.) pushed inside the inlets and chewing in both channels and up on the flats.
Red drum are mostly staged up on flats just inside the inlets and are feeding on cut baits and sight-casted artificials.
The Bonner Bridge has produced some nice sheepshead.
Cobia started to show up, with most of the action being north of the inlet.
Surf anglers have been catching bluefish, sea mullet, puppy drum, and black drum (to 22”).
Offshore anglers have been finding some strong mahi action.
Tuna fishing has been strong as well, but a bit more hit or miss, with some days seeing multiple catches and then very few the next day.
Carson Fisher, of Destin, FL, caught this 48 lb. cobia while fishing out of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Aaron Beatson, of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers have been catching a nice class of speckled trout around oyster beds and grassy drop-offs. Lighter 1/4 oz. No Live Bait brand jig heads matched with paddle tail soft plastics has been a successful setup.
There are also puppy drum striking at cut mullet fished on bottom rigs while drifting the flats. Anglers looking for that artificial red drum bite are having success with soft plastics under popping corks, gold spoons, and topwater plugs.
The big red drum and cobia have started running off the northern beaches. Sight casting is the top tactic for these fisheries, with both Meathog jigs and No Live Bait Needed soft plastics producing well so far.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that inshore anglers have seen a nice, steady bite on speckled trout, with large females in the mix. Anglers are having success targeting both marshes and ledges off deep holes with topwater plugs, MirrOlures, or soft plastic jigs. Moving into summer (post spawn), look for these trout to start spreading out onto grass beds and inshore reef structure.
Red drum have been feeding well on cut baits (mullet, menhaden, and bluefish) on flats around the inlet. The clear, calm wind days have been great for sight casting bait and artificials to the larger schools up in the shallows.
Sheepshead are showing up in better numbers and are feeding on sand fleas or fiddler crabs around bridges and hard structure.
Bluefish have been absolutely everywhere in both the sound and along the oceanfront.
Cobia fishing has been okay, with the first wave of fish just arriving at the same time as tough weather conditions.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that the surf and ocean pier anglers have been doing well while bottom fishing. A mixed bag of smaller bluefish, sea mullet, gray trout, puppy drum, and the occasional spot are being landed.
Bottom fishing action for the Little Bridge anglers has produced some puppy drum and sheepshead. A few nice-sized speckled trout have also been around, along with some bluefish.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that spanish mackerel anglers have been having a bunch of success targeting the schools feeding underneath all the birds.
There are also a nice class of 3-6 lb. bluefish mixed in off the beaches.
Cobia started pushing into the area. With this first wave, the bite has really been pretty focused north of the inlet.
Soundside anglers have been catching a good class of speckled trout, and anglers fishing the flats around the inlets are also catching some red drum with cut baits.
Dragging baits along the bottom has also led to some flounder releases.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that there have been great signs moving forward for a strong mahi season, with the first wave of fish already being plentiful and having good size to them.
Some yellowfin tuna and scattered bigeye tuna are mixed in the daily counts.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that mahi fishing has been excellent, with anglers catching heavy double-digit numbers on offshore trips.
There are also some nice-sized yellowfin tuna and wahoo scattered in the counts.
The billfish action has kicked off, with a few blue marlin release flags being flown.
Nearshore anglers have been absolutely crushing the bluefish, with both quality sizes and numbers of fish around.
Cobia started to show up, with some anglers having mixed success while sight casting to this first push of migrating fish.
Inshore trips have been catching large speckled trout and puppy drum.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore trips are catching yellowfin tuna and plenty of mahi.
Nearshore trips have found really good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel schooled up off the beaches.
Cobia hunting has also started, but the action has been a bit hit-or-miss to start.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers have been doing well catching bluefish on the bottom and with plugs.
Dr. John Burgner, of Richmond, VA, caught this cobia while sight casting 2 oz. Meathog bucktail. He was fishing out of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Donnie Davis, of DOA Charters.
Moon, of Avalon Pier, reports that action has consisted of sea mullet and bluefish being caught off the bottom, and anglers are sight casting to schools of spanish mackerel running by the pier.
Ryan, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing from the surf has been producing a variety of sea mullet, spot, and croakers.
Cut baits have also gotten strikes from some puppy drum that are moving up from the inlet and Hatteras Island area, and there has been the scattered large speckled trout and striped bass being caught.
Schools of bluefish are starting to become more common, and they have started moving within casting range of anglers on the beach.
Soundside anglers are finding some puppy drum while fishing cut baits.
Nearshore anglers have started their cobia fishing efforts off the beach. It has so far been a bit difficult with the rough weather.
