Added on Thursday, September 27, 2012  Gary Hurley

Northern Beaches September 27, 2012

Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still catching solid numbers of speckled trout in the sound between Manteo and Oregon Inlet (and more keepers are showing up). Soft plastic lures and live baits will attract attention from the specks.

Surf casters are still hooking up with smaller bottomfish like spot, sea mullet, and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms. Pompano, small puppy drum, and puffers are mixed in. Some bluefish are around and taking baits or metal casting lures worked off the beaches.

Pier fishermen in Nags Head are connecting with much of the same, along with some citation-class red drum on large cut baits.

Inshore boats are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling small spoons around the inlet and beachfront.

Bottom fishing in the sound and inlet has been productive with flounder, gray trout, sea mullet, and sea bass.

The local offshore fleet is still putting up huge numbers of sailfish and white marlin releases while trolling ballyhoo offshore. Some blue marlin are in the mix as well.

Those targeting meatfish are connecting with blackfin and yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo, also on ballyhoo.

Bottom fishing at deep structure offshore is producing action with tilefish and black sea bass.

Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers continue to connect with big numbers of white marlin releases while pulling teasers and ballyhoo offshore of the inlet. Scattered sailfish and a few blue marlin are also in the mix.

Dolphin, blackfin tuna, and wahoo are also feeding off the inlet and falling for rigged ballyhoo, providing some tasty fillets to go along with the billfish action.

Inshore boats are connecting with bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures around the inlet and along the beaches. Some false albacore are mixed in and falling for the same tactics.

More bluefish, gray trout, flounder, and sea mullet are rewarding anglers bottom fishing near the inlet.

Boats fishing back in the sound are hooking some puppy drum and speckled trout on soft plastics, other artificials, and live baits.

Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the billfish action is still going strong offshore of Oregon Inlet, with boats racking up big numbers of white marlin and sailfish releases along with a few bonus blue marlin. Ballyhoo trolled in combination with dredge and daisy chain teasers are the way to tempt bites from the billfish. The water’s cooling off and the billfishing will likely slow down soon, but anglers can look forward to hot fall fishing for blackfin and yellowfin tuna as the mercury drops a bit.

Anglers looking for meat are connecting with some stout wahoo around the Point, along with yellowfins, blackfins, and a few straggler dolphin (including some fat gaffers). Ballyhoo are also attracting attention from the meatfish.

Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with a mixed bag including sea mullet, sea bass, puppy drum, croaker, spot, pompano, pigfish and more. Shrimp, bloodworms, and squid will all tempt bites from the bottom feeders.

Some flounder are feeding under the pier, and anglers are hooking them on normal bottom rigs and small live baits.

Bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in metal lures like Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the planks when the water’s clean.

Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of puppy drum from the northern beaches, but most are undersized. Spot, croaker, bluefish, and sea mullet are mixed in with the pups and taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms.

Some large drum are feeding just off the beaches and surf casters are connecting with a few at night on big cut baits.