Northern Beaches September 13, 2012
Gene Nash with a 21.5", 4.5 lb. flounder he hooked off Nags Head Pier.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of small puppy drum in the surf around Nags Head and to the north. Other bottom feeders like pompano, sea mullet, and croaker are mixed in, and all will take an interest in fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
Inshore, anglers are still catching some speckled trout in the sound from boats and from the little bridge pier. Soft plastics and live baits are fooling the specks.
Bottom fishermen at the little bridge are connecting with some croaker, spot, black drum, and puppy drum while baiting up with shrimp.
Bluefish are feeding around Oregon Inlet and in the sound, where anglers are hooking them on metal trolling and casting lures. The water has been dirtied by the large swell over the past few days. However, the spanish mackerel bite was excellent when boats could get out and find clean water last week, and the fish should be back when it calms down.
Anglers are connecting with some flounder and gray trout along the pilings of Bonner Bridge, where soft plastics and live baits are producing most of the action.
Sheepshead are also feeding around the pilings, and they have a tough time resisting fiddler crabs or sand fleas dangled tight to the structure.
The offshore fleet is still putting together good numbers of white marlin and sailfish releases while trolling out of Oregon Inlet.
Some wahoo and yellowfin and blackfin tuna are in the mix offshore as well, and they’re falling for skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the winds and large swell have conspired to keep most offshore and nearshore boats at the docks over the past few days, but when the fleet’s made it out, the white marlin and sailfish bite continues to be strong. Small ballyhoo are producing most of the action, and teasers like dredges and daisy chains help attract more fish to the boat.
Anglers can also expect to see some blackfin and yellowfin tuna action when they make it offshore. Some scattered dolphin and wahoo have been in the mix as well lately.
Jonathan Quinn, of Surry County, VA, landed this 35", 18 lb. cobia off Jennette's Pier after it struck a pin-rigged live bait while he was fishing with his grandfather Lawrence Smith.
A few dolphin are feeding closer to the beaches, where boats wreck-fishing for amberjacks are hooking them.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish trollers have been hooking plenty when they can get out the inlet and find clean water.
Some cobia are still around as well, and anglers hooked a few on sight-cast bucktails last week.
Flounder fishing around the bridge and in the sound has been good over the past week, with a solid size-class of fish in the area right now. Soft plastics and live and cut baits are fooling most of the flatfish.
Gray trout are also feeding around the Bonner Bridge, and they will fall for the same baits.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the offshore fleet is still finding some solid billfish action, with big numbers of sailfish and a decent amount of white marlin still in the area. Small “dink” ballyhoo are the way to go for the whites and sails, and trolling them in combination with dredge and daisy chain teasers will raise many more fish than the baits alone.
Meatfish are still on the menu, too, and anglers found some solid action with gaffer and bailer dolphin last week. A few wahoo are also around, and boats looking for tuna are still finding them around the Point (mostly blackfins with a few yellowfins mixed in). Skirted and naked ballyhoo are tempting the bites from the offshore pelagics.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the pier.
Some puppy drum, sea mullet, spot, pinfish, pompano, and other bottom feeders have been taking an interest in shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits on double-drop rigs.
