Northern Beaches – September 25, 2014
Henry Hoffman with a red drum that struck a Gulp shrimp near the Bodie Island lighthouse. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers have been seeing some solid action with slot and over-slot red drum from the Nags Head and northern beach surf in recent days. Shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs are fooling most of the reds. Some smaller bluefish and bottom feeders like spot, croaker, and sea mullet are mixed into the surf catch.
Anglers fishing from the little bridge in the sound are reporting some action with keeper speckled trout while working artificials like Gulp baits. Croaker are taking an interest in baited bottom rigs around the bridge.
Boaters working the sound around Manteo and Oregon Inlet are hooking solid catches of speckled trout and puppy drum while working Gulps and other soft baits on jig heads and beneath popping corks.
Anglers bottom fishing around the inlet are reporting plenty of action with spot, croaker, bluefish, gray trout, and flounder.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the ocean around Oregon Inlet, and boats are hooking solid numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons.
Some large red drum and cobia are cruising just off the beachfront as well, where boaters are hooking them on sight-cast bucktail jigs and other baits and lures.
Kennedy Bowman (age 7), of Wake Forest, NC, with a citation 5 lb., 10 oz. black sea bass that struck cut squid in 350′ of water south of the Point while fishing with family. Weighed in at Pirate’s Cove Marina.
Much of the offshore fleet has been kept at the docks recently due to the high winds, but boats that go are still catching good numbers of bailer and gaffer dolphin along with some yellowfin tuna. Plenty of billfish are still around for boats targeting them, and sailfish and blue and white marlin have been released over the past week. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are the go-to baits for the blue water predators.
Deborah, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the boats fishing offshore continue to see some solid billfish action, with sailfish and white and blue marlin release flags waving from the outriggers as the fleet returns.
Dolphin and yellowfin tuna are adding some meatfish action for the fleet, and boats targeting them are putting together some decent catches. All the blue water predators are biting naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Nearshore trollers are hooking excellent numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel while pulling Clarkspoons around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront.
Inshore boats casting artificials and soaking baits in the sound are finding plenty of puppy drum and speckled trout willing to bite, along with some bluefish.
Harris Sloane and friends from Charlotte, NC, with yellowfin tuna and dolphin they hooked while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Dave Peck and mate Jason Sadler out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of billfish action when the seas are calm enough to get offshore. White marlin are making up the majority of the action, and boats targeting them are tallying good numbers of releases on most days they fish. Some sailfish and blue marlin are in the mix as well and also taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo in the boats’ wakes.
Meatfish are feeding offshore, too, with big numbers of dolphin around offshore weedlines and other floating debris. Some yellowfin tuna and wahoo have also found themselves in the fish boxes over the past week.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are seeing solid spanish mackerel action while working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures from the pier (with some limit catches). Some fat bluefish are mixed in and biting the same lures and bottom rigs.
Bottom fishermen are also decking spot, croaker, pigfish, and some small flounder. Slot and over-slot red drum have been in the mix on some recent days as well, and the drum bite should get better as the water cools off a bit. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
