Northern Beaches March 7, 2013
Mrs. Jason Blount landed this wahoo while high-speed trolling near Diamond Shoals Tower after it struck a Ballyhood Banchee Cowbell lure.
Nick, of TW’s Tackle, reports that the bluefin tuna bite has been excellent over the past week, with boats finding plenty of action with the fish around warm-water temperature breaks 30+ miles off the inlet. The bluefins are taking an interest in trolled ballyhoo and in artificial lures like vertical jigs and topwater poppers that anglers are working in the same areas. The popper bite has been particularly good over the past week.
Some large bluefish are mixed in with the bluefins, and anglers are catching some blackfin tuna while fishing out of Hatteras Inlet.
Surf casters have primarily been hooking dogfish and skates lately, but more options will be available to beach casters as winter turns to spring. A brief run of shad in the surf will likely be first, followed by some pufferfish and sea mullet action as the water temperatures climb into the high-50’s. Shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs are the way to put the puffers and mullet in the cooler.
Some speckled trout and puppy drum should also begin showing up as the water warms up. Many years there’s a decent run of them in the surf before the sound fishing gets started in spring. Soft plastic baits are the best bets for both fish.
Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna are feeding around warmer temperature breaks offshore of the inlet. The commercial season is closed, but anglers are landing tuna recreationally and enjoying catch and release action with the big fish while trolling large ballyhoo and other baits and lures.
Jason and Kamden Scott with a pair of puppy drum that bit chunks of mullet at the Cape Lookout rock jetty while they were fishing with Capt. John Conner of Get the Net Guide Service.
A few yellowfin tuna have also fallen for trolled baits in recent weeks.
Some huge bluefish (20-30 lbs.) are also feeding offshore and will strike a wide variety of baits and lures.
Bottom fishing offshore has been producing limits of tasty tilefish.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of skate while bottom fishing from the pier. Some dogfish have also been mixed in recent days. The water is 43 degrees.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that not much has been happening in the surf yet, but anglers can look forward to the appearance of pufferfish, croaker, and other bottom feeders in the local surf as the water temperatures climb into the upper 50’s.
There’s been a massive temperature break offshore of the inlet lately, and boats making the run there have been hooking bluefin tuna and scattered dolphin while trolling ballyhoo. As the spring arrives, the yellowfin tuna bite should turn on in the same areas.
