Northern Beaches November 14, 2013
Kevin Collins with a wahoo he hooked while trolling off Oregon Inlet on a recent trip with Capt. Lee Collins and mate Bo Davenport on the charterboat “Strike’Em” out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are connecting with black and puppy drum, sea mullet, croaker, and a few bluefish and flounder along the northern beaches. Shrimp and cut baits are tempting most of the bites from all three.
Larger spot have also made their appearance along the beachfront and are biting bloodworms and shrimp.
Inshore boaters are reporting that the good puppy drum and speckled trout bite continues in the sound with soft baits like Gulps producing most of the action. Kitty Hawk Bay has been producing some of the best action, and anglers are even hooking both fish while casting from the shoreline.
Some sheepshead are still feeding around the Bonner Bridge pilings and other structure inshore, and anglers are hooking them on shrimp and other crustacean baits.
Striped bass are starting to feed around the Manns Harbor Bridge, where anglers can hook them while casting or trolling a variety of artificial lures.
The offshore fleet is hooking good numbers of wahoo along with scattered yellowfin and blackfin tuna when the weather lets them get out. Some gaffer dolphin and an odd blue marlin are also in the mix. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the pelagic predators.
Aleesha, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet is returning with solid catches of wahoo (some to 60+ lbs.) while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures along the break off Oregon Inlet. Blackfin tuna have been mixed in and biting the same baits as well, and some recent days have seen a solid yellowfin bite, too.
Ivy Blevins with her first puppy drum, hooked in the Hatteras Village surf. Photo courtesy of The Roost Bait and Tackle.
Some dolphin and a mako shark have also hit the docks over the past week, and boats are still releasing a handful of white and blue marlin while trolling offshore.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing big hauls of tilefish.
Inshore, boaters are connecting with speckled and gray trout, sheepshead, puppy drum, and flounder. Live baits and soft plastics are fooling the inshore fish.
Rob, of Strike ‘Em Sportfishing, reports that boats are still finding some good fishing out of Oregon Inlet when the weather lets them make the run offshore. Wahoo, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and king mackerel are making up most of the catch, and all of the blue water gamefish are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
As the water continues to cool towards the end of fall, anglers should see the big (200-400+ lbs.) bluefin tuna show up and start feeding off the inlet.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been catching big numbers of puppy drum from the pier while bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits. Some spot, sea mullet, black drum, croaker, pufferfish, and other bottom feeders are mixed in and biting shrimp as well.
A few flounder and speckled trout have also come over the rails in the past week.
The water is 60 degrees.
