Northern Beaches October 27, 2011
Jamie Smith with a 22" striped bass that he hooked under the Melvin Daniel bridge. Photo courtesy of TW's Bait and Tackle.
John, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching big numbers of speckled trout in the surf on many recent days. Soft plastic baits and MirrOlures have been producing most of the action with the trout, but they’re biting a variety of baits as well.
Some sea mullet, black drum, pufferfish, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on two-hook rigs in the surf.
The big red drum bite has moved to the south, but anglers are still catching and releasing solid numbers of citation-class reds from the beaches ofHatteras Island.
Inshore, some speckled trout and puppy drum are falling for soft plastics that anglers are working through the marshes.
Striped bass are showing up around the Manteo bridges, and some resident fish have begun feeding underBonnerBridgeas well. The stripers will bite a variety of lures, but it’s tough to beat live eels when the fishing’s a bit slow.
Sheepshead and tautog are feeding around the pilings of the bridge, and squid and sand fleas will get their attention.
Offshore, those trolling are finding some citation wahoo along the break, with scattered yellowfin tuna and dolphin in the mix. The bite’s been very up and down for blue water trollers, though, with great fishing one day and a tough bite the next.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have seen some excellent speckled trout fishing in the surf along the northern beaches when conditions have been right lately. Light northeast or east winds and calm surf produce the best fishing, and Gulp baits have been the most productive offerings.
Anglers are still catching plenty of bluefish on metal jigs and trolled spoons in Oregon Inlet.
A few citation-class red drum are still feeding just off the beaches, but most have moved south towardsAvon.
Offshore, there’s been an excellent blackfin tuna bite for boats trolling around the Point. Good numbers of yellowfin tuna have been mixed in, with scattered wahoo and dolphin bites as well. Ballyhoo under sea witch style skirts are producing most of the action.
Korin, ofOregonInletFishingCenter, reports that the blackfin tuna fishing has been incredible offshore of Oregon Inlet lately, with boats bringing big boxes of tuna back to the dock. Some yellowfins have been in the mix as well, and anglers are also catching a handful of wahoo (many citation 40+ pounders).
Nearshore anglers hooked some king mackerel and false albacore over the past week, along with plenty of bluefish.
Inshore, boats are hooking some puppy drum and speckled trout in the sound and are starting to find some striped bass inshore as well.
Boats fishing around the inlet are connecting with some sheepshead, tautog, and other bottom feeders.
Rick Rogers, of Wanchese, with two of 66 speckled trout he caught before daybreak in the lights of Jennette's Pier. The specks fell for soft plastics on a double leadhead rig.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that blackfin and yellowfin tuna have been the main story lately, with huge numbers of blackfins (some to well over 30 lbs.) and a good showing of yellowfins as well (some 60+ lbs.). The action’s been best around The Point, but fish have been showing up to the north and south as well. Some wahoo and a straggler dolphin or two are still in the mix, and all are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo. A few sailfish have been released in recent weeks, too, but most of the billfish have moved on from the area.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that there’s been a solid speckled trout bite from the pier over the past week, with anglers catching big numbers of specks on soft plastics and a variety of other baits and lures. Plenty of bluefish are also coming over the rails.
Some black drum, pompano, pufferfish, and gray trout, along with other smaller bottom feeders, are taking an interest in high-low rigs baited with shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
