Northern Beaches – March 2022
Travis, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have found some good action on red drum on the southern Hatteras Island beaches. Areas from ramp 27 to the jetties are seeing schools of puppy drum (with a few over-slot fish mixed in) hitting jigs.
Bottom fishing with cut shrimp on the Ocracoke and southern Hatteras Island areas has been producing a mix of black drum and pufferfish.
Over the next few weeks, anglers anticipate the arrival of the large citation-class red drum at areas around the Point.
Offshore anglers are finding good numbers of bluefin tuna out of Oregon Inlet even though the keeper season has closed.
Anglers running offshore to do some trolling are targeting yellowfin tuna and schools of large bigeye tuna that are running alongside the bluefins. The action for these two species will dominate the action through March.
A stray mahi or two have also been picked up in the trolling action.
Brian Rubino, of Kill Devil Hills, hooked this red drum on cut mullet in the Wanchese area. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Jordan, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna action was great this winter, but it is coming to an end with warmer water temperatures on the way and the keeper season now closed.
Anglers headed offshore are looking forward to targeting the yellowfin tuna that will be running alongside scattered bigeyes and blackfins.
As the sound water temperatures warm up, anglers should start see the arrival of sea mullet, spot, flounder, and bluefish.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers are getting geared up in anticipation of the puppy drum action that is working its way into the sounds. These schools will first be pushed up on the flats around the inlet where anglers will have success while casting gold-colored spoons and topwater plugs. In recent years, the bone-colored Zara Spook Jrs. have been a top producing lure.
As the water temperatures start to hold above 52 degrees, the speckled trout action really picks up around inshore holes. The first few trips out in cooler water temperatures will find suspending twitch baits garnering most of the strikes, as the fish are still lethargic.
A few more moon cycles and all the Outer Banks’ inshore species should be fired up and ready to strike topwater plugs and the live bait pushing into the inlet.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that puppy drum are starting to push up against the beaches from Oregon Inlet down to Hatteras. This is a great sign that the spring fishery is about to kick off.
Sea mullet tend to be the next species anglers will see pushing into the area. They will move onto the beachfronts and into deeper channels around the inlet.
Anglers fishing the sounds are having some success with speckled trout and red drum while fishing the mainland creeks and river systems.
Offshore anglers are reporting yellowfin tuna around the area. Most are running right alongside the bluefin tuna still holding in the cooler waters, but the bluefins will be moving on shortly.
March is a great month for anglers to experience some great blackfin tuna jigging action over structured areas only a quick 30 mile run from the inlet.
Mikey and his son, Brody Sabadic, from the Outer Banks, caught these speckled trout on MirrOlure hardbaits fishing the Manteo area. Photo courtesy of Island Life Outfitters.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that trips are having catch and release action on the big bluefin tuna that are still in the area. With water temperatures where they sit, most expect to see these giant fish hanging around a while longer.
Anglers are now focused more on targeting the yellowfin and large bigeye tuna moving into the area. Spring sees a great run of tuna, with plenty of double-digit days ahead for anglers finding a favorable weather window. Over the next month, yellowfins and bigeyes will make up the majority of the offshore action.
Kim, of Avalon Pier, reports that water temperatures on the Northern Outer Banks beaches remain super cold. Most anglers looking to wet a line are catching both dogfish sharks and rays with cut bait.
Over the next few weeks, the variety of action will start to improve in the area. This new activity should begin when puppy drum and scattered speckled trout start to push up from the Hatteras beaches.
