Northern Beaches October 24, 2013
Justin Pickard, of Wilmington, with a 70 lb. yellowfin tuna that bit a ballyhoo under a blue/white Ilander while he was trolling near the 650 line off Oregon Inlet.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf anglers are hooking good numbers of puppy drum around Oregon Inlet on the rising tides. Some small spot, flounder, and bluefish are also feeding just off the beaches and biting surfcasters’ baits. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are all good choices in the surf.
Anglers casting artificial lures and natural baits from the little bridge on the causeway are still connecting with speckled trout, black and red drum, and some flounder.
Inshore boaters are also connecting with speckled trout and puppy drum while working soft plastics and casting live baits from Roanoke Island to Oregon Inlet.
The striped bass bite is turning on around the bridges in the sound as well.
Offshore, the fleet is hooking solid numbers of blackfin and yellowfin tuna, along with bailer dolphin and some wahoo. Billfish (sailfish and marlin) are still in the area and taking an interest in boats’ trolling spreads as well. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are the way to go for the blue water gamefish.
Ashley, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing plenty of yellowfin tuna while trolling offshore of the inlet. Boats are also still putting together decent catches of gaffer and bailer dolphin and finding some wahoo as well. Blue and white marlin and sailfish are also joining in on the blue water action, and trolled ballyhoo are fooling all the offshore predators.
Jeri Roton, of Belleville, WV, with a puppy drum that struck shrimp on a bottom rig off Jennettes Pier.
Inshore boats are connecting with puppy drum, speckled and gray trout, flounder, and sheepshead in the sound and around Oregon Inlet. Live baits and soft plastic lures are tempting bites from most of the inshore fish.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that there are still plenty of bailer dolphin feeding off Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking big numbers. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna action has been good most days as well. In addition, there are still decent numbers of marlin and sailfish around and providing some exciting billfish encounters. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are producing most of the offshore action.
Bottom fishing offshore is generating quick limits of delicious tilefish.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking spot, sea mullet, black drum, pufferfish, croaker, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp, squid, and bloodworms.
Bluefish are around and biting the bottom rigs and casting lures.
Some citation-class red drum have been falling for cut baits off the end of the pier over the past week.
The water is 66 degrees.
