Northern Beaches – June 26, 2014
Tom Gilliam with an 8 lb., 14 oz. sheepshead that bit a sand flea at the Bonner Bridge. Weighed in at TW’s Bait and Tackle.
Robin, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf anglers are seeing some action with sea mullet, spot, bluefish, and black drum while soaking bait along the northern beaches. More blues and some spanish mackerel are falling for metal casting lures that anglers are working from the beaches as well.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on sand fleas fished tight to the structure.
Inshore, anglers are hooking some speckled trout, spot, and croaker while bottom fishing from the little bridge on the causeway.
Boaters casting soft plastics and other lures in the sound are connecting with good numbers of puppy drum along with some speckled trout and small flounder.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Oregon Inlet, where boaters are hooking big numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons in the inlet and along the beachfront.
Cobia fishing has slowed down, but anglers are still finding a few of the cobes cruising the beachfront and hooking them on bucktail jigs and live baits.
The Oregon Inlet offshore fleet continues to connect with big numbers of yellowfin tuna and dolphin while trolling ballyhoo in the blue water off the inlet. Some bigeye tuna (100-200 lbs.) and wahoo have been mixed in. More billfish are showing up by the week as well, and anglers released sailfish and blue and white marlin in recent days.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing some solid hauls of tilefish.
Steve Brown, of Greenville, TN, with a 25″ puppy drum he hooked from the beach at Corolla on a sand flea.
Carmen, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers continue to see some excellent yellowfin tuna action while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet, with most of the fish falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Plenty of dolphin are also feeding offshore, and anglers are still catching good numbers of gaffers amidst the smaller bailer dolphin that have moved into the area.
Billfish are showing up in increasing numbers, and boats released both blue and white marlin and sailfish last week, with skirted and naked ballyhoo drawing bites from the bills.
Nearshore boats are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront.
Some cobia are still feeding nearshore as well, where boats are hooking them while sight-casting bucktail jigs and live baits.
Flounder and puppy drum are feeding in the sound not far from Oregon Inlet, and inshore boaters are hooking good numbers of both while working soft plastic baits.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still connecting with some bigeye tuna while trolling off Oregon Inlet (to 200+ lbs.). The yellowfin bite remains excellent as well, and anglers are hooking both of the tunas on ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches.
Gaffer dolphin are still around, as well as big numbers of smaller bailer dolphin, feeding around grass lines and temperature breaks off the inlet.
Rob, of Strike’Em Charters, reports that the yellowfin tuna and dolphin action off Oregon Inlet has been hot recently, with big numbers of both of the blue water predators hitting boats’ fish boxes. Skirted ballyhoo are tempting the bites froRichard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that the puppy drum action around Oregon Inlet has been nothing short of outstanding. Most of the fish are falling for Z-Man bait and other soft plastics on jigheads and beneath popping corks, but gold spoons and other artificials are also producing plenty of action.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with some spot, puppy drum, flounder, triggerfish, spadefish, and more. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are producing most of the action with the bottom feeders.
