Northern Beaches – Winter 2014-2015
Jake Worthington, of Camden, NC, with a yellowfin tuna (one of 14 yellowfins and blackfins) he landed on a recent trip off Oregon Inlet aboard the “Swordfish.”
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that high winds and surf have kept anglers off the beaches for the past two days, but prior to the weather the red drum action was excellent for local anglers. Undersized, slot reds, and over-slot reds have been around in big numbers, and anglers are landing them from the beachfront from Kill Devil Hills to Oregon Inlet on shrimp and cut baits pinned to bottom rigs. Gulps and other soft plastic baits can also produce when the fish are feeding in cleaner water.
A few speckled trout have been mixed in with the reds to the south of Oregon Inlet.
Some sea mullet and other bottom feeders like pufferfish are around as well and will bite shrimp and bloodworms on smaller hooks.
Inshore boaters working the sounds are connecting with some striped bass around the bridges. Trolling diving plugs or working lures like bucktail jigs and soft plastics is the way to fool the stripers.
Windy weather has also foiled the offshore fishing on many recent days, but boats continue to find some solid tuna action when they can make the run offshore. Both blackfin and yellowfin tuna are feeding offshore, and some boats have been putting together limits recently. Mako sharks are also around and taking an interest in anglers’ baits. The tuna action should continue for much of the winter, and bluefins will likely steal the show from the yellowfins early in 2015.
Dennie Bomar, of Nags Head, with one of 30+ puppy drum he and a friend landed while fishing off Ramp 4 near Oregon Inlet in early December. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Melissa, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the boats are still finding plenty of hungry tuna while trolling offshore of the inlet. Limit catches of yellowfins have rewarded many recent trips, and solid numbers of healthy blackfin tuna are in the mix as well. A few wahoo and mako and other sharks are feeding in the same areas as the tunas and also taking an interest in boats’ baits. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches are fooling the majority of the blue water gamefish.
Inshore boats are still finding action with puppy and over-slot red drum while working grass flats and shoals in the Pamlico Sound.
Speckled trout are on the feed inshore as well, and the reds and specks will both bite soft plastic lures along with cut baits.
Striped bass fishing has turned on in the sound as well, and anglers are hooking some healthy stripers near the area bridges, both while trolling and casting a variety of artificials.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are connecting with some sea mullet, bluefish, and undersized speckled trout on shrimp and cut baits. Plenty of dogfish, skates, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks are also finding the baits.
