Northern Beaches – October 9, 2014
Jim LaRock caught and released this 46″ red drum after it struck a bait he kayaked out from the surf in Corolla. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers have been finding plenty of action in the surf of the northern beaches over the past week. Red drum (from slot fish to 40”+ citations), bluefish, sea mullet, and some smaller speckled trout are all finding anglers’ baits in the breakers. Cut baits are fooling most of the reds and bluefish, with shrimp getting the job done on the smaller fish.
Anglers fishing the piers are hooking much of the same along with some flounder, gray trout, and pompano.
Those casting from the little bridge on the causeway are connecting with some smaller puppy drum, striped bass, and speckled trout, primarily while working soft plastic baits.
Boats working the sound from Manteo to Oregon Inlet are hooking solid numbers of gray trout, puppy drum, flounder, and bluefish. Live and cut baits along with a variety of artificials are fooling the inshore predators.
The offshore fleet is still seeing some good dolphin action on many days, along with some scattered black and yellowfin tuna. A few wahoo and billfish are still in the mix, and all the blue water pelagics are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing solid hauls of tilefish along with some citation grouper.
Bob Lambert, Sr., of Grandy, NC, with a 25″ puppy drum that bit a Fish Bite sand flea of Outer Banks Pier.
Melissa, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna while sailing on the offshore boats. Plenty of dolphin are on the feed offshore as well, and boats are also encountering a few wahoo and blue and white marlin. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the offshore gamefish.
Boats dropping baits to the bottom offshore are hooking some fat grouper (some 20+ lb. citations) and plenty of tilefish.
Nearshore trollers are seeing plenty of action with bluefish while pulling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Anglers fishing the sound are reporting plenty of puppy drum along with some gray trout, bluefish, and flounder. Both artificial lures and live and cut baits are drawing attention from the inshore predators.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing fast action with panfish like sea mullet, spot, and croaker.
Andrew Midgett with a slot red drum he hooked while bottom fishing from Jennette’s Pier.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that offshore trolling is still producing some solid hauls of dolphin. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are feeding in many of the same areas, and all three gamefish are pouncing on skirted and naked ballyhoo. Scattered wahoo have been joining the dolphin and tunas in the fish box as well.
Dropping baits to the bottom offshore has been producing plenty of action with tasty tilefish and a few stout snowy grouper.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are seeing some intermittent spot runs while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms. Sea mullet, sand perch, gray trout, croaker, and other bottom feeders are adding to the action between the spot runs.
Some flounder are biting live and strip baits under the pier.
Anglers casting large cut baits from the end of the pier have released several citation-class red drum over the past week.
