Northern Beaches – June 4, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers continue to connect with bottomfish like sea mullet, croaker, and spot from the northern beaches of the Outer Banks. Most are falling for shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
Those bottom fishing from the little bridge on the causeway are also primarily finding action with smaller bottomfish.
Cobia have been the big story recently for inshore and nearshore boaters. Anglers are spotting the fish cruising on the surface around Oregon Inlet and just off the beachfront, and they’re tempting them to bite bucktail jigs and natural and artificial eels.
Capt. Rudy Gray, of “The Hook Up,” and Larine Yates with a citation-class red drum that struck a chunk of tuna belly off Ocracoke Island.
Anglers are also hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons just off the beaches.
Amberjacks are feeding at structure just offshore and falling for live baits and artificial lures.
The offshore fleet continues to find some excellent action while trolling out of Oregon Inlet. Bigeye tuna have been around in solid numbers lately (some approaching 200 lbs.) and boats have landed limits of yellowfin tuna on many recent trips as well. There are still dolphin in the mix, and anglers are also encountering blue and white marlin while trolling offshore. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are tempting most of the bites from the offshore pelagics.
Mike Paganeli with a 29″ red drum he caught and released in the south Nags Head surf. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Kat, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that trollers have been hooking big numbers of yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin on recent offshore trips out of the inlet. Most are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo, which are also fooling some bigeye tuna and billfish.
Cobia are looking for meals just off the beaches, and nearshore boats are finding plenty of action with them while sight-casting bucktail jigs and other offerings to fish they spot on the surface.
Spanish mackerel are also feeding nearshore and biting flashy lures like Clarkspoons and casting jigs.
Bottom fishing around the inlet is producing a mixed bag of flounder, gray trout, pufferfish, croaker, sea mullet, and more. Squid and other baits are attracting attention from the bottom feeders.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers on offshore trips have been seeing plenty of action out of Oregon Inlet recently. Targeting dolphin has produced some limit catches of late (with most fish gaffers). The ‘phins are falling for trolled ballyhoo and other baits that anglers are pitching to fish that show up near the boat. Most of the action has been around grass patches and weedlines inshore of the tuna grounds.
Boats targeting tuna are also finding success, particularly with bigeyes (many caught in the past week from 100-200+ lbs.). Ballyhoo under skirted lures like sea witches are accounting for most of the tuna.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, and spot in the past week.
Cooler water temperatures have slowed the spanish mackerel and bluefish action, but once the temperatures reach the 70 degree mark again the bite should turn back on.
The water has been 58-62 degrees over the past week.
