Northern Beaches March 28, 2013
Jared Francisco with a 275 lb. bluefin tuna that he landed on his first trip offshore. The tuna struck a spreader bar southeast of Oregon Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Lee Collins, Rob Williams, and Nick Gowitzka on the “Strike’Em” out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. The crew also released five more bluefins.
John, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of bluefin tuna while fishing along warm water temperature edges offshore of Oregon Inlet. A variety of techniques are putting anglers in touch with the tunas, as trolled ballyhoo, vertical jigs, and topwater poppers have all proven effective recently. Several bigeye tuna and a blue marlin were also hooked by Oregon Inlet boats last week, and scattered blackfins and yellowfins are in the mix as well.
Anglers are starting to see some sea mullet and pufferfish along the southern beaches of Hatteras Island, and when the local water temperatures climb a bit, they’ll be moving up the coast. Some puppy drum should also make a spring appearance as the beach water warms up a bit around Nags Head and Oregon Inlet.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats have had some excellent luck with bluefin tuna lately, with most of the action coming around warm temperature breaks around the Point and the area’s other offshore hotspots.
In addition to the bluefins, several bigeye tuna have been landed as well, and one boat released the first blue marlin of the season last week. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures, but some boats are also connecting with the bluefins while working vertical jigs and topwater poppers.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that after a fairly slow winter season, the bluefin tuna bite has been excellent over the past few weeks for the Oregon Inlet fleet. The fish have been holding on a sharp temperature break offshore, where most boats are fooling them while trolling skirted ballyhoo.
John Gilbert, of Ocracoke, with a 22″ puppy drum he hooked while casting an artificial lure into the island’s surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Tackle.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of dogfish and some skate while bottom fishing from the pier. The water temperature is 46 degrees.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that dogfish and skates have been making up the majority of the catch in the local surf recently. Anglers surf-fishing during calmer, sunny weather last week landed several speckled trout in the surf, so when the weather begins to feel more like spring, the trout may still be biting. Gulp baits and other soft plastics on jigheads will tempt bites from the specks.
Not much is happening in the sound yet. The shallow waters of the sound warm more quickly than the ocean, so anglers may see some speckled trout and puppy drum action in the sound in April if the temperatures warm up and stay there.
Bluefish and sea mullet may also begin feeding in the sound before they hit the beaches this spring.
Offshore, the bluefin tuna bite has been excellent for boats running to temperature breaks off the inlet. Most are falling for trolled ballyhoo, but some anglers are also hooking up while working vertical jigs and topwater poppers. A few scattered wahoo have also been landed lately.
