Northern Beaches – September 26, 2019
Betty, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have found large speckled trout (up to 4 lbs.) while casting soft plastics in the early morning and after dark.
Puppy drum are hitting Carolina-rigged cut baits. A few over-slot fish (up to 32”) have been caught around Oregon Inlet.
Bottom fishing with shrimp, sand fleas, or Fishbites strips has been producing a great mix of fish. Pufferfish, pompano, sea mullet, and spot have all been chewing.
Nearshore anglers have been catching good numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs to feeding schools. Large king mackerel (up to 42 lbs.) are being caught with slow-trolled live baits around nearshore rocks and ledges.
Offshore anglers are finding limits of mahi and scattered large wahoo out in the Stream. A mix of blackfin and yellowfin tuna are also in the daily counts.
Billfishing has been hit or miss, but steady weather should see more boats fishing, and swordfish (up to 187 lbs.) are being caught by anglers targeting them.
Inshore anglers have been having a great late summer bite on speckled trout. Bluefish and the occasional striped bass are mixed in, especially when working deeper holes and structured areas. Some large sheepshead are being landed, with most caught around the bridge pilings and channel markers.
Mike Pittman from Marshall, VA, with a trout that fell for an artificial jig while fishing in Hatteras, NC.
Bridgette, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore trips have been filling coolers with limits of mahi.
A good showing of yellowfin tuna has also been welcomed, with a few trips easily finding double-digit numbers. A mix of blackfin, bigeye, and wahoo are regularly hitting trolled ballyhoo.
Multiple white marlin releases have come while working outside the current break.
Nearshore anglers are returning with bluefish, spanish mackerel, and ribbonfish.
In the sounds, anglers are catching good numbers of speckled trout while working ledges and flats. Bluefish are in these same areas, and they’re hitting soft plastics intended for trout. Large sheepshead are being caught around the Oregon Inlet Bridge pilings.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that inshore anglers have been finding good numbers of speckled trout on ledges and marsh banks from the inlet up to Wanchese. Soft plastics fished under popping cork rigs have been most productive when targeting these areas in search of the smaller groupings of fish.
Plenty of bluefish are inside the inlets. They’re mostly schooled up in the deeper channels around Bodie Island lighthouse.
Some puppy drum are in the mix, and they’re hitting soft plastics worked on banks and sand flats.
A few scattered cobia are in the area. While just outside the inlet, anglers are keeping eyes peeled for cruising fish.
Gerry, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that speckled trout fishing has been steady, with most action coming in the early mornings. Gulp soft plastics fished on 1/4 and 3/16 oz. jig heads has been the top producing setup.
Bottom fishing has been a bit slow, but high winds having the water churned up may be the culprit. Croakers, pinfish, small flounder, and scattered black drum have all been chewing here and there.
Laurie, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that great numbers of gaffer and bailer mahi are coming back to the docks. Solid catches of yellowfin and a few blackfin tuna are mixed in the daily counts, too. A few large wahoo are also being caught in the same areas, though numbers are hit and miss with the amount of boats getting offshore.
Some days have seen close to double-digit numbers of white marlin releases.
Nearshore trips have been trolling spoons for limits of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore anglers have been landing slams of red drum, speckled trout, and flounder, and a few striped bass are being caught around the inshore bridge pilings.
Andy, of Nags Head Pier, reports that red drum are being caught with cut mullet.
Bottom fishing has been producing spot, sea mullet, and pompano.
Bluefish numbers have been steady, with Gotcha plugs and cut baits getting the most strikes.
Laurie, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that over-slot red drum (up to 40”) have made a good showing in the past week. They’re hitting large cut baits.
Puppy drum are being caught on shrimp and mullet fished closer to the breakers.
Anglers casting glass minnow style jigs and Gotcha lures are hooking false albacore, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.
Bottom fishing anglers have been landing spot, sea mullet, pufferfish, spadefish, and small black drum.
Justin, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers are finding a good puppy drum bite on the newly-shortened pier. Carolina-rigged cut baits fished in deeper holes behind the breakers out towards the end have been producing action as the fish move back and forth under the planks.
Bottom fishing with shrimp has been getting bites from good-sized sea mullet.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching croakers and sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp and Fishbites strips.
Carolina-rigged cut mullet has been producing bites from red drum and bluefish.
Sound-side anglers have been finding good numbers of keeper trout up into the Manteo area. Bluefish are in the same area, and they’re hitting soft plastics.
A few keeper red drum are mixed in, but the reds are still scattered with the warm water temperatures.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have brought in some good-sized pompano while fishing sand fleas and shrimp in deep holes off the sand.
A few puppy drum are being caught from the sand by those fishing cut mullet. Bluefish are all over the beaches, with anglers being successful in both casting jigs to feeding schools and fishing cut baits.
Nearshore trips have been landing limits of spanish mackerel (with bluefish mixed in).
