Northern Beaches – November 2023
Hugh, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers in the area saw some great bull drum fishing over the cold weather stretches in October. The churned-up water and winds were ideal for pushing these fish within casting range, especially for those on the local piers.
Surf fishing has been good as we now move into late fall. Anglers have been finding a mixed bag of sea mullet, speckled trout, puppy drum, bluefish, and sharks.
Anglers fishing the Little Bridge have started to see some speckled trout action.
Soundside trips are producing speckled trout, puppy drum, and bluefish. The early and late hours seem to still be best for the inshore bite.
Offshore anglers are catching wahoo, tuna (blackfin and yellowfin), and the occasional dolphin.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that as a result of falling water temperatures, anglers are finding that the trout fishing action in the backs of the creeks is firing up.
Speckled trout are staging up in these areas, and they’re feeding on finger mullet and various bait fish while holding in their fall holes.
Many of the puppy drum have been shoved south, but anglers are finding some drum in the surf of both the Kitty Hawk and Nags Head beaches. These same surf anglers are also seeing speckled trout in the mix.
Flounder are seemingly everywhere in the inshore waters.
Anglers should start to get stocked up on their MirrOlures and paddle tail soft plastics for the spackled trout fishing that will steadily improve.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that surf anglers and those on the local piers have been having an excellent run of fishing. The piers and surf are seeing a wide variety of species, including black drum, puppy drum, bluefish, smaller pompano, and speckled trout.
On the cooler days, there have been a few small runs of spot and sea mullet.
Anglers on the piers have also seen some runs of bull drum, especially when a front stirs up the waters.
Anglers fishing from the Little Bridge have started to catch some speckled trout, and the Bonner Bridge fishing pier has produced some sheepshead, sea mullet, and puppy drum.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that there are a ton of bluefish around in the nearshore waters and back into the inlets.
False albacore are in the area, but this stretch of winds has really affected the number of days that boats can get out of the inlet. As conditions settle down, there should still be some great sight-casting opportunities in November.
Some red drum are being caught around the inlet, though the aggressive bluefish have made it hard to get baits down to them.
Speckled trout fishing has been steady inshore. Anglers can find these fish staged up around creek mouths, points, and potholes on the grass flats.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the weather transitioning to fall has left many days with less than favorable fishing conditions. On days that anglers are getting out, the blackfin tuna bite has been excellent.
Look for tuna fishing to really be firing up over the next month, as the area typically sees a big push of fish with temperatures cooling down.
Andy, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore boats have started to see some yellowfin tuna showing up now that temperatures are cooling down.
The tuna have been mixing in with larger wahoo and a bunch of late season mahi.
A handful of sailfish are also being released on days the weather allows for that offshore run.
Nearshore fishing has been excellent, with catches of king mackerel, false albacore, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.
The inshore trips have found some keeper speckled trout and puppy drum.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that there have been late season mahi being caught, though this should be tapering off with the temperatures continuing to cool.
Tuna fishing will be replacing the mahi action, and the late fall tuna are a great target for anglers looking to take home a bunch of meat. Both yellowfin and blackfin tuna will be in the dock counts.
Some large wahoo and a few sailfish are rounding out the offshore action.
Nearshore anglers are finding good numbers of bluefish and strong bottom fishing action on triggerfish and black sea bass.
Inshore trips are hooking red drum and scattered speckled trout.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts have produced flounder (released), speckled trout, and a few spot.
Cut baits have enticed strikes from bluefish and several sharks.
Some over-slot red drum are being caught in the evenings. The rough weather has helped the red drum bite that has been strong all of October.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that with all these winds along the coast, there have been some big drum caught after dark.
Puppy drum are also around, and they’re feeding throughout the day.
On calmer days, speckled trout have started to show up, and some larger bluefish and scattered spot round out the catches.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been seeing good numbers of red drum along the beach.
Some speckled trout are also showing up now that water temperatures are steadily cooling.
Bottom fishing from the surf has been really good. Anglers are finding a mixed bag of spot, sea mullet, croakers, and the occasional pompano.
The inshore fishing down close to the inlet is seeing catches of puppy drum and speckled trout.
