Northern Beaches – June 5, 2014
John King, of Charlotte, with a yellowfin tuna that struck a skirted ballyhoo along a weedline off Oregon Inlet while he was fishing with Keith and Guy Baer aboard the “Sandra D.”
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing some good puppy drum action on most recent days, with fish biting in sloughs up and down the beachfront. Shrimp, cut baits, and soft plastics will tempt bites from the puppies.
Surf casters are also connecting with good numbers of sea mullet, with shrimp producing most of the action.
Some black drum and spot are mixed in with the puppies and mullet for anglers bottom fishing from the piers.
Anglers casting artificials from the little bridge on the causeway are connecting with some bluefish, puppy drum, and flounder.
There’s also been decent puppy drum fishing in Mann’s Harbor, around Oregon Inlet, and elsewhere in the sound recently, with most anglers hooking up on Gulps or other soft baits.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlet and just off the beachfront, where boats are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures.
Korey with a 28″ red drum he caught and released in the Salvo surf after it struck a bloodworm. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
The offshore fleet is still connecting with yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin while trolling temperature breaks and weedlines off the inlet.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing plenty of action with tilefish and black sea bass.
Carmen, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some solid yellowfin tuna action off the inlet right now, and bigeyes have made a showing recently as well (some to nearly 200 lbs.). Gaffer dolphin are still in the mix, too, along with a few wahoo.
The offshore fleet is also still seeing some billfish, and several white marlin have been released in recent days.
Early in the week, boats were still seeing some cobia along the beach south of the inlet, and there should be more to come.
Nearshore trollers are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
And inshore boats have found plenty of action with puppy drum recently.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the fishing has been hot on several recent trips after a cold spell last week. Large catches of gaffer dolphin have been coming aboard when boats can find solid grass lines off the inlet.
Yellowfin tuna are also starting to bite in better numbers, and anglers landed an impressive haul of yellowfins last week as well.
Rob, of Strike’Em Charters, reports that the gaffer dolphin and yellowfin tuna action has been outstanding recently, with a few wahoo and other blue water predators mixed in. All are falling for skirted ballyhoo trolled around weedlines and current edges offshore.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are connecting with pigfish, puffers, sea mullet, spot, croaker, and more. Some puppy drum have also been in the mix.
Bluefish are biting bottom rigs and casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
