Northern Beaches – May 2022
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum and scattered black drum action has been good down on Pea Island and near the inlet, and the old Bonner Bridge pier has been producing solid numbers of puppy drum.
Speckled trout fishing on the Nags Head beaches has been great. There was a good number of large fish (to 5+ lbs.) caught on a variety of soft plastics. Puppy drum are mixed in the surf action, and they’re also hitting a wide range of soft plastics on jig heads.
Anglers soaking baits have found sea mullet and pufferfish showing up on the northern beaches, and dogfish sharks are around but now tapering off with water temperatures rising.
Sound-side fishing is starting to heat up with both speckled trout and puppy drum being landed.
Offshore fishing has been focused on the spring tuna bite. Yellowfin tuna action has been picking up, and mixed in are a few straggler bluefin.
Lily Beatson, of Kill Devil Hills, hooked this trout on a Down South Lure from the surf in Nags Head. She was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers are pleased to be seeing better numbers of speckled trout and red drum pushed out along the beaches. Fishing Down South soft plastics on jig heads has been a great rig for both species, with the puppy drum also hitting cut bait.
Kayak anglers fishing back in the shallows have been getting on the trout and drum bite while casting topwater plugs or soft plastics.
Black drum and sheepshead will be making a presence in the inshore bite any day now.
Anglers looking forward to the Outer Banks cobia season may not have to wait much longer. At any time over the next few weeks, they should start migrating into the area.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that puppy drum (to 36”) fishing has been just about “on fire” with action from Ocracoke Island all the way up through Kitty Hawk.
On the northern beaches from Nags Head to Duck, speckled trout fishing has been spectacular. Both the trout and red drum are hitting soft plastics on jig heads.
Speckled trout fishing in the sound has been picking up a lot, with a steady weather pattern allowing for inshore waters to warm.
Puppy drum action is also picking up as the reds are moving into the inlets and onto flats. The schools of striped mullet moving into the sounds over the next few weeks will really help kick off the inshore bite.
Nearshore structure is loaded with black sea bass and some remaining dogfish sharks.
Not much has been happening on the surface nearshore recently, but look for false albacore to arrive any day now as they move closer to the beaches.
Cobia anglers are looking for that 64-68 degree water to move into the area. With how quick seasonal changes have been occurring, these fish should move in by the end of May.
Jim, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers fishing jigs have been catching a mix of smaller and keeper-sized speckled trout.
Some puppy drum are mixed in with the trout and are also hitting soft plastics.
Nags Head area surf anglers have been catching a lot of puppy drum as these fish move up from the Hatteras Island beaches.
Good-sized speckled trout and some pufferfish are also mixed in the surf action.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that spring offshore fishing has really kicked off in the area, with tuna being the highlight. Blackfins, good-sized yellowfins, and even a few bluefins are all mixed in the trolling bite.
Some smaller false albacore are running alongside the other tuna species.
The first white marlin releases of the year have been recorded, and scattered wahoo round out the daily dock counts.
Nearshore anglers have been catching black sea bass and puppy drum. Other inlet and nearshore bottom fishing trips are producing sea mullet, blowtoads, and catch/release flounder.
Inshore trips have seen an uptick in red drum and speckled trout action with water temperatures warming. Some shad are still around areas of structure, and bluefish are moving in through the inlet.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that anglers are seeing good catches of yellowfin tuna and scattered blackfin. A few keeper-sized bluefin tuna are hanging around, too, and are mixed in the offshore bite. Some scattered wahoo are also a part of the mixed bag.
There have been plenty of black sea bass holding over nearshore structure.
Closer to the inlets, anglers are catching sea mullet, puppy drum, and bluefish.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that surf anglers around the pier have been enjoying great speckled trout and puppy drum action. Soft plastics jigged in the deeper holes along the beach have been the top producer.
Cindy, of Avalon Pier, reports that speckled trout fishing has been great. There have been mixed sizes, including plenty of large trout (to 7+ lbs.), and the best tactic has been jigging soft plastics.
Scattered puppy drum are also striking the same artificial baits used by trout anglers.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing in the surf has picked up a lot. Good numbers of whiting and some pufferfish have been feeding on small bottom-rigged baits.
There are still plenty of dogfish sharks in the area.
A few bluefish are starting to creep into the area as water temperatures along the beach rise.
Speckled trout fishing has been good for anglers fishing Z-Man or Gulp soft plastics in deeper holes along the beachfront.
Sound-side anglers are seeing the red drum and speckled trout action pick up as these fish become less sluggish with warmer weather patterns.
Nearshore anglers are looking for the cobia to start showing up anytime around the end of May, and spanish mackerel will also be moving onto the beaches around this same time.
