OBX/Northern Beaches – April 2024
Cameron, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that dogfish sharks and skates still make up the majority of the surf fishing action.
The surf zone will soon start to see some red drum move in from the south and inlet areas, with speckled trout also moving out to the surf as they push into the ocean.
Surf anglers running down to Pea Island have seen that bottom fishing bite pick up, with catches of blow toads and bluefish showing up.
Speckled trout action has been picking up in the sound. Some more of the favorable weather patterns will pull them out of the mainland creeks and into areas behind the inlet.
Offshore, April is typically all about the tuna bite in the area, as well as the chances of seeing the first few mahi showing up by the end of the month.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that speckled trout action remains strong on the western side of the sound. The last warm front got fish on the move in the creeks they’ve been staged up in, so anglers should start targeting these trout closer to the creek mouths.
Some schools of red drum are being found on grass and sand flats near the inlet. The clear waters of early spring bring great opportunities to sight cast to these fish on the warm, sunny days.
Moving later into April, the nearshore areas start to come alive. Look first for the migration of black drum off the beaches as they push up to the Chesapeake Bay. After the black drum is typically the push of citation-class red drum, with cobia being the final species to run through the area.
Greg Brissette, of Raleigh, found this 10 lb., 28″ striper in the Albemarle Sound using a Strike King paddletail ona 3/8 oz. jighead. He was fishing with Capt. Scooter Lilly of CCW Inshore Charters.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that surf anglers are focused on the arrival of sea mullet and pufferfish on the Hatteras Island beaches, but not much of this action has been seen on the northern beaches just yet.
The puppy drum bite exploded on the beach from Kitty Hawk down to Hatteras over the recent warm spell. Anglers found a very consistent bite when casting curly tail Gulp baits on lighter (1/4 oz.) jig heads.
A few big red drum were caught down at the Point, but until weather patterns stabilize, the Point or any area won’t see a consistent bite.
When the option to run offshore pops up, it’s all about tuna fishing. Yellowfin tuna are around and will only get better moving into April.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that the big speckled trout are moving out of the creeks and will be starting to hit the beaches.
Puppy drum are already showing up along the beachfront.
Around the middle of April, anglers should start seeing schools of citation-class red drum off Hatteras Island as they work their way north (and provide sight casting action).
Not too far behind will be the first signs of cobia, which usually happens around the end of April.
Capt. Ben Morris, of Salty Waters OBX Charters, reeled in this speckled trout in a creek off the Pamlico Sound. He was using a topwater Adams Custom Baits.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the bluefin tuna have begun to move their way out now that water temperatures are starting to tick up.
Any day now should be the arrival of yellowfin tuna and that strong spring bite the area typically sees in April and holds onto into May.
Blackfin tuna will also start to mix into the action.
Anglers also look forward to the end of April and early May for the first bigeye tunas and possibly some gaffer-sized mahi showing up.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna releases have made up most of the action. For many anglers, this is a great opportunity to catch a large fish using jigging and popping techniques. Trolling has also had success, but mostly it’s been the jigging and popping technique that has produced.
The start of this year’s yellowfin tuna run has been a little slow. The good news is that April usually offers less wind and more fishing days, and this should quickly increase the number of anglers on the water and, in turn, the numbers of yellowfins being caught.
Inshore anglers will soon be focused on the good-sized schools of red drum moving onto the flats and out in the ocean.
Bluefish and possibly even some early spanish mackerel will also start showing up off our beaches by the end of the month.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that boats that have found a window to run offshore have still been finding bluefin tuna, with one boat also finding a bonus blue marlin release.
Moving into April, anglers look forward to tuna action firing up and weather patterns starting to settle down.
Inshore trips will see red drum making up much of the early spring action, as these fish move into the area from the ocean.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are having success catching dogfish sharks, skates, and pufferfish as the area awaits water temperature movements. Bluefish should be the next to arrive, alongside catches of scattered red drum.
Speckled trout also tend to make a showing during the early spring, usually after the constant winds settle down.
Anglers will start their fishing efforts back in the sounds as conditions heat up and fish move out of their winter patterns. Red drum will be moving around on the flats inside the inlet, with trout pushing out of the creeks and settling in some of the same areas.
The offshore boats will be targeting yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
