Northern Beaches June 7, 2012
Jim Doughtery and Shane Francis with a large cobia they hooked while fishing off Oregon Inlet with Capt. Aaron Kelly of Rock Solid Charters. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.
Seth, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin bite is still going strong for offshore boats trolling out of Oregon Inlet. Most of the fish are falling for skirted ballyhoo. Some large wahoo were also weighed recently.
Billfish are showing up in increasing numbers as well, with sailfish and blue and white marlin releases tallied by local boats in the past week.
Bottom fishing at wrecks and other structure closer to the beaches is producing action with triggerfish and black sea bass.
Cobia continue to patrol the waters just off the inlet and beaches, and boats are hooking some while sight-casting large bucktails and live eels to fish that they spot cruising on the surface.
Trolling small spoons around Oregon Inlet and along the beaches is producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Surf and pier anglers are connecting with bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other small metal lures when the water’s clean. When the surf is dirty, bottom rigs baited with cut bait are still drawing some strikes from the blues.
Inshore, anglers are still hooking speckled trout while working Gulp and other soft plastic baits. The sloughs around Oregon Inlet and the little bridge on the Nags Head causeway have been some of the best spots lately.
Black drum and croaker are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs in the sound.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite remains solid off Oregon Inlet, and increasing numbers of bigeye tuna (to 150+ lbs.) are joining the yellowfins in the offshore fleet’s catch.
Boats are still bringing back big catches of gaffer dolphin along with a few citation-class wahoo.
Sailfish and blue and white marlin are also becoming more prevalent off the inlet, and boats released numbers of each last week.
Closer to the beaches, some chopper bluefish (to 12 lbs.) are showing up intermittently.
Sight casters are connecting with some cobia cruising along the beaches while casting large bucktail jigs and live eels.
Bottom fishing at structure off Oregon Inlet has been producing solid catches of triggerfish, tilefish, and black sea bass.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off Oregon Inlet and the beaches, where boats are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that gaffer dolphin are feeding heavily offshore of Oregon Inlet, and boats are giving big numbers a ride home in the fish box (with some days producing limits).
The yellowfin tuna bite is still going, though a bit slower than it’s been in recent weeks, but boats are also finding some bigeye tuna (many 100-200+ lbs.) while trolling for the yellowfins.
Some wahoo have been mixed in with the tuna and dolphin, so a meatfish slam is certainly a possibility right now. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Keith and Carley Durham, of Honesdale, PA, with a pair of chopper bluefish they hooked at the same time in the surf at Ramp 27. Cut mullet fooled the big blues. Photo courtesy of Frank and Fran's.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with good numbers of bluefish along with some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other small, metal lures from the pier.
Some keeper flounder are falling for baited bottom rigs near the breakers.
Spot, sand perch, and skates are also taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on the bottom.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are hooking up with good numbers of 2-3 lb. bluefish from the northern beaches, mostly on cut baits.
Some sea mullet, spot, croaker, and a few speckled trout have also been feeding in the surf and falling for shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs.
Inshore trolling around Oregon Inlet has been producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel. Clarkspoons pulled behind planers and trolling weights are the ticket to hookups with both.
Some cobia have been feeding around the inlet and along the beaches, where anglers are hooking them by sight-casting large bucktails with soft plastic trailers and other baits.
Offshore, the dolphin and yellowfin tuna bite remains strong. Both the blue water predators are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
