Northern Beaches March 6, 2014
Stacie Turner, of Roanoke, VA, with a puppy drum that fell for cut shrimp in the surf off Ramp 4 near Oregon Inlet while she was fishing with Dan Shockley and her mother, Betty Wright. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that bluefin tuna have shown up offshore of Oregon Inlet, and the local fleet has been hooking up with both smaller fish and giants (to 600+ lbs.). Some yellowfin and blackfin tuna have also been feeding off the inlet over the winter. Most boats are connecting with the tunas while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures appropriately sized to the fish (larger baits and skirts for the bluefins and smaller for the yellowfin and blackfin tunas). Most of the action is taking place along hard surface temperature edges along the same break where anglers hook tunas in the warmer months.
Anglers sending bottom rigs to the seafloor offshore are connecting with good numbers of tilefish.
On the beaches, the Outer Banks have enjoyed phenomenal puppy drum action all winter, with anglers landing good numbers of fish from the Nags Head beaches to Hatteras Inlet. Both bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits and grubs like Gulp swimming mullet are tempting bites from the pups.
Dogfish are also around and biting bottom rigs, and surf casters to the south have seen the first few sea mullet and pufferfish of the year already. All the surf action will only improve as the water temperatures climb with the arrival of spring and the fish get more active.
Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that after a long winter of waiting, the bluefin tuna have finally arrived offshore of the inlet. The massive tuna (ranging from 100-600+ lbs.) are feeding along offshore temperature breaks in the area. Trolling large ballyhoo paired with heavy skirted lures is fooling many of the fish, and boats equipped with “green stick” rigs are finding particularly strong action while trolling soft squid on the elaborate rigs. Anglers are also tempting the big fish to bite vertical jigs and topwater poppers that they’re working around schools of fish they spot on the surface or depth sounder.
Donald Lilly, of Vanceboro, NC, with a Neuse River striped bass that fell for a D.O.A. CAL soft plastic while he was fishing with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.
Some blackfin and yellowfin tuna are also around, though generally feeding in slightly warmer water than the bluefins. The same techniques with downsized baits will tempt bites from the smaller tunas.
Bottom-dropping offshore is producing plenty of action with tasty tilefish as well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a few dogfish while bottom fishing from the pier with a variety of baits.
Some puppy drum have also been hanging around the pier, but they haven’t been very active in the cold water.
The water is around 40 degrees, and anglers should start seeing improved action from the puppies along with the appearance of some pufferfish as spring arrives and the mercury climbs.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that bluefin tuna have made their hotly anticipated arrival off Oregon Inlet. Boats are connecting with the huge tuna while trolling around temperature breaks offshore, with large ‘horse’ ballyhoo under heavy skirted lures as the best bet to fool the fish.
