Northern Beaches Winter 2010-2011
Noah Scott (age 11), from Maryland, with a 32 lb. striped bass he landed in the surf at Coquina Beach on 8 lb. line. Weighed in at TW's Bait and Tackle.
Andy, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to hook some striped bass in the surf along Duck and the other northern beaches. A few have also been caught from the beach near Oregon Inlet and around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge. Cut baits and live eels have been producing most of the action with the ocean stripers.
Smaller stripers are feeding around the bridges in the sounds, like Currituck, Manteo, and Mann’s Harbor (most 19-22”). Rat-L-Traps and Hyper Striper lures are producing the majority of the smaller schoolies.
A few puppy drum are still being caught around Oregon Inlet, and anglers are anxiously waiting to see whether the phenomenal puppy drum action seen last January will repeat itself. If so, anglers can hook up while casting soft plastics and Gulp baits to schooling fish in the surf zone.
Offshore boats are still hooking good numbers of yellowfin tuna and some blackfins while trolling the Gulf Stream.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching some speckled trout and puppy drum while casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics to sloughs along the oceanfront. This bite should hold up as long as the water temperatures remain in the upper-40’s or above.
Surf fishermen and boaters are seeing some of the first striped bass of the year, and the fishing should be improving as the water cools.
Offshore, the yellow and blackfin tuna fishing remains solid when boats can make the run, with scattered wahoo in the mix as well. Ballyhoo rigged under sea witches are producing most of the fish, and the action’s been to the south of the Point lately. The tuna action should remain consistent through the winter as long as the Gulf Stream doesn’t push too far offshore.
Kevin and Ed Radford, from Garner, NC, with a 48.85 lb. king mackerel they hooked on a live bluefish at Chicken Rock while slow-trolling east of Cape Lookout Shoals aboard the "Tide One On."
Pat, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore boats are hooking excellent numbers of blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and other baits. Good numbers of yellowfin have been in the mix, too, and some boats are catching limits of the yellows. There’s also a continuing wahoo bite to add a little variety to the tunas, which should be around through January.
Striped bass are starting to make their way south, and inshore boats are catching some in the ocean and in the sound around the bridges. The current cold snap should be pushing even more fish south, so anglers can expect the striper action to continue to improve.
Donnie, of DOA Charters, reports that the striped bass fishing in the area seems to be behind this year by about one month. The water temperature has just dramatically dropped in Oregon Inlet, and subsequently everything will be migrating out of the sound and into the ocean. The ideal water temperature for targeting stripers in this area is 50-52 degrees.
Anglers can pick up some smaller resident fish now, but the quality fish (20+ lbs.) are harder to come by. Boaters are catching a few stripers around the inlet so far, primarily on live eels. Surf anglers have landed a handful of fish on cut mullet, chunks of fatback, and live eels.
Soon the stripers will start to school up in the ocean, the birds will show their location, and anglers can cast soft plastic swim baits to them. Go with Chesapeake Bay, Tsunami, or Storm baits anywhere from 4-9” long. Trolling parachute jigs, umbrella rigs, and diving plugs will also produce action on the schooling ocean fish.
Look for striper fishing to turn on strong closer to Christmas.
