Northern Beaches June 21, 2012
John Green with an 11 lb. sheepshead he landed near Oregon Inlet while fishing with mussells. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that offshore trollers have been bound to the dock by wind for much of the last week, but when they’ve been able to get out, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are still providing plenty of action. Large bigeye tunas have been in the mix, too, along with a few wahoo and sailfish and blue and white marlin releases. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action with all the blue water predators.
Closer to the beaches and around the inlet, boats trolling small spoons are catching plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish, as well as some false albacore.
Some cobia are in the area, and anglers are hooking a few while sight-casting to cruising fish.
Bottom fishing at nearshore wrecks and other structure is producing plenty of tasty sea bass, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers.
Some speckled trout and flounder have been coming from the inlet, and anglers are also still finding decent trout action in the sound. Soft plastics like Gulp baits are responsible for most of the trout action.
Pier anglers have been catching bluefish on bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs, with a few spanish mackerel mixed in on the plugs.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats are still finding fast action with gaffer and bailer dolphin and yellowfin tuna when they’ve been able to get offshore lately. Decent numbers of white marlin and a blue marlin were also released since the blow, and the fleet found some solid bigeye tuna action before the winds came up last week. Trolled ballyhoo are accounting for most of the bites from the blue water predators.
Trolling closer to the beaches and around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Inshore boats are still finding some speckled trout in the sound and around the inlet.
Bottom fishing in the sound has been producing some sea mullet, sheepshead, spot, pigfish, and puffers.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports that before last week’s northeast winds, there was still a decent yellowfin tuna bite and one large (500+ lbs.) blue marlin release.
Since the weather, the dolphin fishing has been strong, with both gaffers and bailers coming over the gunnels.
Tom Love with a 30" bluefish he hooked in the surf at Corolla. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, spot, spadefish, croaker, pigfish, and more on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, cut baits, bloodworms, and more.
A few keeper gray and speckled trout and flounder have come over the rails in the past week as well.
Some bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs when the water’s clean.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with a summertime mixed bag in the surf, including some sea mullet croaker, spot, speckled trout, and bluefish. Bottom rigs baited with cut mullet, shrimp, and bloodworms are producing most of the action.
Trolling around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront is still good, with bluefish and spanish mackerel falling for small spoons behind planers and torpedo weights.
Offshore, the winds kept boats at the dock for much of last week, but anglers found some solid gaffer and bailer dolphin fishing when they were able to get back out. Trolling ballyhoo and pitching chunks of cut bait or squid to fish that anglers see is putting the dolphin in the boat.
