Northern Beaches – Sep 13, 2018
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has been very good with all the crystal clear water off the beach right now. Anglers on the southern Hatteras beaches are catching citation-sized sea mullet, spot, and pompano while fishing bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas. Some large spanish mackerel (to 4 lbs.) and bluefish are schooling just behind the first sandbar, especially around daybreak. Casting spoons and Stingsilvers are both some favorites to reach the fish.
A few cobia have been caught off the Avon surf using cut baits. Anglers at the Point have hooked some false albacore on glass minnow jigs, and large cut baits on Carolina rigs have landed some citation drum around Hatteras.
Anglers on the northern beaches up through Corolla are reporting bluefish, spanish mackerel, and large pompano (up to 3 lbs.).
Nearshore boats are finding some of the same spanish and blues seen all over the Outer Banks this week. Also in the mix are kings, false albacore, cobia, and sharks.
Offshore anglers have landed a mixed bag of large wahoo, blackfin tuna, and mahi on recent trips, and a few sailfish have been caught and released while trolling for the other species.
The white and blue marlin bite has been good, with one day reporting 20+ white marlin releases.
Maddox and Keith Tongier with a big old red that they caught fishing on the sound side in the Northern Outer Banks.
Mark, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that blackfin tuna have been biting very well, with some trips bringing in around 30 fish.
Wahoo are out around the break, and though the catch ratio is always tough with wahoo, the ones brought in are large fish (40+ lbs.).
White marlin have been raised in many spreads, with releases reported daily.
The dolphin bite has picked up, and boats are finding good numbers of gaffer-sized fish.
Closer to shore, some cobia (to 50 lbs.) are being caught by anglers sight casting.
Some large king mackerel have been brought in by anglers trolling, and spanish and bluefish are showing strong just off the beach.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been good around Oregon Inlet. Trolling with Clarkspoons behind planers or 2-3 oz. inline sinkers is getting the job done.
Some good-sized schools of bluefish are mixed in with the spanish
A few larger red drum are being caught by sight casting Meathog bucktails with a soft plastic tail. Cut baits on a Carolina rig are getting some bites as well.
Inshore anglers are finding some keeper speckled trout using topwater plugs and popping cork setups.
Walter, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers at the little bridge have found good numbers of small sea mullet and spots while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some flounder have been caught, and while most are undersized, reports of keeper fish are coming in from all over the sound.
Surf anglers on the Nags Head beaches are catching pompano and sea mullet in the wash.
Some large sheepshead are being hooked around the pilings of the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
Boats trolling nearshore are finding good numbers of spanish, blues, and a couple smaller king mackerel while trolling.
Christopher Rutledge displays the 37″ red drum that he caught from a surf board at Pea Island.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the billfish bite has been great, with close to two dozen releases coming in a day on both white marlin and sailfish.
Mahi have been around in strong numbers, too, and they are mostly gaffer fish.
A few citation wahoo are mixed in on the daily counts.
Blackfin tuna have shown in decent numbers, with a couple of fish coming from just about every trip.
Nearshore boats are filling coolers with all the spanish mackerel in the area. Trolling has worked great at picking away at fish, and casting to feeding schools has also delivered.
Some kings are beginning to be mixed in with the spanish, and the coming weeks should bring even better numbers.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that sea mullet, pompano, and spot have been feeding well on bottom-rigged shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have been showing well with the clean water, and casting Gotcha plugs at the feeding fish has been working off the end of the pier.
Julia, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish have been schooled up around the pier. Casting spoons and Gotcha plugs has been working for anglers sight casting to the fish.
Around the pilings, spadefish and sheepshead are feeding on sand fleas and shrimp.
Pompano, pigfish, and spots are also mixed on the bottom and feeding on baited rigs.
A 41 lb. king mackerel was caught off the end.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that blues and spanish mackerel have been feeding well with the crystal clear 78 degree water. Large schools of bait continue to flush by the pier, with the fish feeding right below them. Gotcha plugs are a favorite for both species.
Sea mullet and spot are scattered along the bottom, and shrimp is a great bait to entice a few bites.
A few smaller cobia have been caught off the end by anglers waiting for a king mackerel to bite.
Mark, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has been really good in the surf. Anglers have been hooking up with plenty of keeper fish on Gulp baits and cut mullet.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are biting on casting spoons being thrown to the feeding schools moving down the shoreline.
Pompano and sea mullet are being caught on bottom rigs with shrimp and sand fleas.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that the northern Corolla beaches are seeing puppy drum being caught on cut baits under a Carolina rig.
Keeper flounder are in the drop-offs, and they’re biting soft plastics on jig heads.
Pompano are feeding on Carolina-rigged sand fleas.
Bottom rigs with shrimp are catching a variety of the bottomfish, including croakers, sea mullet, and spot.
There have been large schools of menhaden cruising just off the surf, and they’re being fed on by the large schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel in the area. Anglers have had success casting glass minnow jigs and Stingsilvers out to the feeding fish.
Nearshore boats are finding a good number of cobia (up to 40 lbs.) around the inlet.
Trolling has produced king mackerel, spanish, and false albacore.
