Northern Beaches – May 26, 2016
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that blues and sea mullet are in the Coquina Beach area in south Nags Head. South of the inlet, anglers have been reeling in bluefish, pompano, sea mullet, and a 50” red drum was caught around ramp 44.
Cobia are coming in from the Nags Head shoreline on the outgoing tide using clams and squid for bait.
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway has been seeing lots of little trout but some keepers are mixed in (as well as a few keeper flounder).
Nearshore and inshore charters have been reporting solid bluefish catches in the 2-3 lb. range, and offshore boats have caught dolphin, yellowfin, and bonito.
A sailfish and a white marlin were also caught and released.
John Payer, from Forked River, NJ, with a 40 lb. striper he caught on Fishbites while fishing in the Nags Head surf.
Gabby, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore boats are catching a whole lot of gaffer dolphin in the 35-40 lb. range, as well as yellowfin tuna, billfish, sailfish, and a couple blue and white marlin in the Gulf Stream.
Nearshore and inshore, there have been a lot of 2-3 lb. bluefish, spanish mackerel, cobia, as well as flounder. The bluefish and cobia have been spotted regularly in the sound waters up to three miles offshore.
Darrick Website, of Sanford, with a sailfish he caught on ballyhoo and a blue and white flasher Ilander head while fishing out of Oregon Inlet.
Brian, of Waverunner Sportfishing Charters, reports that when the weather has cooperated, there have been mahi caught in the 15-30 lb. range along the Gulf Stream change off of Hatteras, as well as scattered tuna.
Joey, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that there have been smaller cobia caught on bottom rigs (using shrimp) and Gotcha plugs, and a couple of keeper cobia catches on pin rigs and bucktails.
There have also been daily bluefish catches on Gotcha plugs, as well as a lot of sea mullet, black drum, spanish mackerel, gray trout, and flounder all caught using Fishbites and shrimp.
Tom, of Nags Head Fishing Pier, reports that there have been a lot of bluefish, and anglers are slaying them on Gotcha plugs. There have also been catches of keeper flounder, sea mullet, and pufferfish. The sea mullet and flounder have been mostly hitting cut bait, shrimp, and squid.
Ed, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder have started to show up along the northern beaches, and anglers are still seeing plenty of sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish south of the inlet. As water temps warm up to 65-68 degrees, fishermen should start to see these species along the northern beaches as they follow the bait fish up the coast. There have also been pufferfish caught, as well as citation-sized sea mullet catches, along the shoreline.
Inshore, anglers have been catching limits of bluefish and spanish mackerel by trolling along the inlets, and there have been 30-50 lb. cobia catches, speckled trout, and small stripers around Oregon Inlet and in the sounds.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that Corolla anglers are reeling in puppy drum, gray trout, whiting, flounder, and medium-sized bluefish in the 2-3 lb. range. Fishermen are using cut bait and bloodworms, and they are catching fish on the incoming tides from Pine Island to Carova.
