Northern Beaches May 10, 2012
April Walke, of TW's Tackle, with her first cobia, caught while fishing on the "Pomeicock" with Terry Stewart.
Wheeler, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish from the beaches and piers (with some larger choppers in the mix). Cut baits, finger mullet, and metal casting lures will all tempt bites from the blues.
A few sea mullet and smaller flounder are feeding along the shoreline, and anglers are landing both while bottom fishing from the surf and piers.
Inshore, there’s been a pretty good speckled trout bite at the Little Bridge pier, where anglers are hooking decent numbers of specks on Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
Some flounder and black drum are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs in the area.
Cobia have made a showing along the beaches already, and there should be plenty more on the way. Sight-casting bucktails with soft plastic trailers to the cobes is one of the most exciting ways to put them in the boat.
The offshore fleet has found some good yellowfin tuna and dolphin action while trolling ballyhoo around the Point.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters along the northern beaches are catching good numbers of bluefish (with some ranging to 6-8 lbs.). Cut baits are fooling most of the blues.
Some sea mullet, croaker, and gray trout are taking an interest in two-hook rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and cut mullet.
Trolling just off Oregon Inlet has been productive lately with bluefish and false albacore.
Offshore, there’s been an excellent yellowfin tuna bite and plenty of dolphin around the Point, with the tunas feeding more to the north and the dolphin to the south.
Denise, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet has been returning to the docks with excellent catches of yellowfin tuna and dolphin lately. Some wahoo have also been mixed in. Boats have also tallied some white marlin and sailfish releases over the past week, so the billfish are arriving as well. Skirted and naked ballyhoo are fooling the dolphin, tuna, wahoo, and billfish.
Nearshore trollers are hooking big numbers of bluefish. Bottom fishing in the inlet and ocean is producing some flounder, blues, sea mullet, and trout.
Anglers casting artificials in the sound are connecting with some speckled trout.
Nick Preziotti, of Kitty Hawk, with a 3.25 lb. speckled trout that bit a Gotcha plug he was working from Jennette's Pier.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin bite off Oregon Inlet has been steady recently. The dolphin action’s been mostly around the Point and to the south, and the tunas have been feeding a bit to the north. Ballyhoo under sea witches and other skirted trolling lures are fooling both of the blue water predators.
Blue marlin are beginning to show up alongside the tuna and dolphin as well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing consistent action with bluefish over the past week, both on baited bottom rigs and while working Gotcha plugs from the planks. Some of the blues have been running large (to 9 lbs.).
Some flounder, pufferfish, pigfish, stingrays and skates are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp, squid, bloodworms, and cut baits.
