Northern Beaches May 9, 2013
Gabe Reynolds with his first keeper puppy drum, hooked in the sound near Manteo. Photo courtesy of TW’s Bait and Tackle.
John, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the rough water has kept many anglers from fishing lately, but good numbers of sea mullet and pufferfish are biting for those who’ve been trying in the surf and on the piers. Shrimp on bottom rigs will fool both. Some bluefish and other regular surf targets are also in the mix, and the bite will only improve as the water warms and conditions calm.
Speckled trout and puppy drum have shown up in the sound, and anglers fishing along the little bridge on the Nags Head causeway found some excellent action with both last week. The bite has also been on around Bodie Island. Gulp baits and other soft plastics have been the ticket to hooking up with both the specks and pups.
Not many boats have been offshore recently, but yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and other blue water pelagics should be feeding in the Gulf Stream and awaiting anglers when conditions allow a run offshore.
Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet is seeing some solid yellowfin tuna action on the few days they’ve been able to get to the blue water lately.
Good numbers of dolphin are also in the mix, and anglers should see more of them as the spring progresses into summer. A few blackfin tuna, mako sharks, and wahoo have also been riding home in the fish boxes lately, and the first white marlin of the season was also released last week.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing plenty of tilefish.
Dave Lusk, of Kill Devil Hills, with a 23″ speckled trout he hooked in the Albermarle Sound. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the Gulf Stream, which had been flowing far to the south of the usual Oregon Inlet hotspots, is now back in its usual position around the Point. Since the warm water has returned, anglers are connecting with some healthy yellowfin tuna and seeing the first solid dolphin action of the year. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are tempting the bites from both of the pelagics.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have seen some good runs of sea mullet over the past week. Some pigfish, croaker, pufferfish, and spot have been mixed in, along with a few skate. Shrimp on bottom rigs are producing most of the action with the panfish.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the rough surf and hard northeast winds have slowed down surf fishing on the northern beaches, but before the blow, anglers were catching big numbers of sea mullet and pufferfish from the sand. The bottom feeders should return as the water calms down, and anglers can expect to see action with bluefish, puppy drum, and other fish in the surf over the coming weeks. Shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs will tempt bites from all the fish feeding in the breakers.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with puppy drum and speckled trout in the marshy areas near Oregon Inlet. Gulp baits are producing most of the action with both.
Bluefish have also shown up in the sound, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
The wind has kept the offshore fleet at the dock for much of the past few weeks, but the latest trips produced solid yellowfin tuna and dolphin action. Anglers can expect more dolphin to be moving into the area as May progresses and the water temperatures climb.
