Northern Beaches – June 6, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the beaches have been producing speckled trout, mainly around Kill Devil Hills.
Spot and sea mullet are being caught from Nags Head to Corolla using shrimp, sand fleas, and Fishbites strips.
Red drum are scattered, but a few anglers have caught them on Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Offshore, the reports have been centered on the hot mahi bite. Anglers are catching close to limits of fish as they continue to push into the area.
Large bigeye tuna (to 106 lbs.) made a strong showing, with double digit numbers of fish being recorded.
Both blue and white marlin have been released by anglers fishing larger plugs in the Gulf Stream, and a few sailfish are mixed in.
Bottom fishing offshore has been producing grouper and tilefish.
King mackerel are being caught in good numbers by anglers fishing nearshore with dead bait rigs.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are in large schools from the beach out to three miles. Anglers are catching quick limits while trolling Clarkspoons behind a planer.
Sight-casting to cobia has continued to be very productive, with many trips still catching their limit of large (up to 68 lb.) fish.
Speckled trout have been biting very well along deeper grass banks from the inlet up to Wanchese.
Slot-sized red drum are biting Carolina-rigged fresh cut mullet and soft plastics, and large sheepshead (to 8 lbs.) are being caught around bridge pilings with fiddler crabs.
Matt Wilkins, Drew Piot, Carson Skipper, and Nick Wright with two citation big eyes weighing 126 lbs. and 155 lbs. caught on a green stick with rubber squid. They also caught mahi and yellowfins while fishing out of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Chris Kubik, of Point Runner Charters.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the mahi action is strong, with most fish being gaffer-sized.
Large bigeye tuna (to 100 lbs.) are hitting naked and skirted ballyhoo. On some days anglers have seen as many as double digit numbers of fish scattered among the fleet.
Yellowfins and a stray blackfin or two are mixed in, and blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are also being seen in the boats’ spreads.
Nearshore anglers are on the hot cobia bite, with close to double digit numbers of large fish (to 60 lbs.) being spotted. A few schools of citation red drum are also around for anglers to sight-cast to.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting spoons pulled behind small planers just off the beach.
Speckled trout are hitting soft plastics fished along grass banks from the inlet up towards Nags Head, and striped bass are feeding at the bridges around Manteo.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that there has been great numbers of cobia in the area. Sight-casting 2-3 oz. bucktails with soft plastic trailers has been very successful when the conditions allow. The cobia also love live baits, when anglers have them. Targeting waters from 25-40’ has been key in finding these cruising fish.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers on the little bridge have been finding good numbers of speckled trout. Some of the hotter, calmer days have seen the bite slow down, so anglers have figured out that a little chop on the water has been best. Small jig heads matched with 3” Gulp soft plastics have been the most successful.
A few flounder are hitting Carolina-rigged shrimp and soft plastics worked along the bottom, and some large spot have been reported hitting the bottom rigs as well.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the mahi bite has been on fire, with large gaffers (to 40 lbs.) being caught in the Gulf Stream.
Bigeye tuna (to 109 lbs.) are mixed in offshore. On some days anglers are bringing in as many as 29 fish to the docks.
A few blue marlin have been released. They’re hitting the bigger baits and plugs.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are schooled up just off the beaches.
Large cobia (to 65 lbs.) are being caught by anglers sight-casting 2-3 oz. bucktails with soft plastic trailers.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs have been catching great numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel. The bite has lasted all day, but anglers are reporting seeing feeding schools more often in the mornings.
Sea mullet (to 2 lbs.) are being caught with shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
The occasional speckled trout is being landed on soft plastics worked closer to the breakers.
Laurie, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that large gray trout are being caught with shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
Sea mullet and puffers are both mixed in, and they’re also hitting bottom rigs.
Anglers using Fishbites strips are finding croaker and a few large spots.
Small founder are feeding closer to the breakers, with bottom rigs and soft plastics as the top producers.
A few speckled trout are biting Gulp baits early and late in the day.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been hitting Gotcha plugs and glass minnow jigs thrown to feeding schools.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught in good numbers by anglers casting Gotcha plugs, with the color pattern not seeming to make a difference.
Gray trout and sea mullet are biting shrimp fished on a bottom rig.
Black drum are hitting Carolina-rigged cut bait and sand fleas.
A few cobia (to 36”) are being found by anglers at the end of the pier, and speckled trout are hitting soft plastics fished closer to the beach.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching keeper flounder using soft plastics.
Sea mullet are feeding on shrimp and sand fleas in the deeper holes along the beach.
Casting spoons and glass minnow jigs have been productive in catching bluefish as they feed on the surface.
Nearshore anglers have been very successful in sight-casting bucktails to cruising cobia, and spanish mackerel and scattered bluefish are hitting spoons trolled off the beach.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching large sea mullet with shrimp.
Tailor-sized bluefish (to 3 lbs.) are being caught in good numbers with casting jigs and cut mullet.
Nearshore anglers have been sight-casting bucktails for cobia and citation-sized red drum, and spanish mackerel and bluefish are schooled up in big numbers just off the beach.
