Northern Beaches – June 9, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf fishermen all along the northern beaches are catching bluefish, croaker, and sea mullet.
Anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway are catching keeper trout, small black drum, and sheepshead on sand fleas.
Pier fishermen have caught a lot of spanish and bluefish off the end, and then sea mullet, croaker, pigfish, and pompano off the bottom.
Inshore boats are catching bluefish, spanish, sea bass, and a few cobia, including a recent 55 lb. fish.
Offshore vessels are finding wahoo, blackfin, a good yellowfin bite, and big gaffer dolphin. There have also been sailfish caught and released, and a recent 145 lb. bigeye citation tuna was reported as well.
Tim Taylor, from Cape Town, South Africa, with a red he snagged while fishing with Capt. Aaron Aaron of Tightline Charters.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that yellowfin tuna are finally coming in strong, with one offshore boat reporting a catch of 18 yellowfins and 12 gaffer dolphins in a single trip. The mahi continue to be biting regularly, and there have also been reports of wahoo, blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish.
If the warm weather holds out, the yellowfin bite will get better in the next couple weeks, and the dolphin catch is expected to remain steady.
Nearshore and inshore vessels are catching bluefish, spanish mackerel, and cobia.
Michelle, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been reeling in a steady stream of spot, croaker, spanish, bluefish, sea mullet, speckled trout, triggerfish, and gray trout. Fishermen are having the best luck using sand flea Fishbites for bait, and the water temps have been consistently reaching 71-72, suggesting that the good fishing conditions and wide variety will continue.
Wayne, of Nags Head Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are catching lots of spanish and some bluefish. Most of the spanish are keepers and are being reeled in on Gotcha plugs.
Tim, of Outer Banks Fishing Charters, reports that there have been sheepshead at the bridge, and bluefish and spanish mackerel catches are up and down the beaches. Speckled trout fishing is hot, but the majority of fish are undersized.
There have also been a couple of drum caught inside the inlet, and sea mullet fishing has been good all along the beaches as well.
Bottom fishing is hit and miss.
Ed, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have primarily been catching sea mullet and bluefish, but there’s been a lot of variety in smaller doses from the fishing piers all the way to Corolla.
Scattered reports keep coming in of flounder, spot, pompano, speckled trout, black drum, croaker, and pufferfish all along the Northern beaches.
The bottom fish have been mainly attracted to bloodworms and sand flea flavored Fishbites, but a few have been caught on shrimp as well.
The bluefish, spanish, and drum are hitting cut mullet.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching puppy drum, a couple of gray trout, small flounder, bluefish, croaker, spot, and sea mullet on the beaches from Carova to Pine Island. Cut bait has been the best bait for anglers, but artificial sand fleas and bloodworms have been working, too.
Inshore, anglers are catching bluefish, trout, flounder, and a few cobia in and around the inlet. There have also been cobia and amberjack caught on the wrecks.
Offshore anglers are reeling in mahi and scattered yellowfin.
