OBX/Northern Beaches – December 2024
Cameron, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing the surf zone and piers on the northern beaches are catching black drum, puppy drum, and some sea mullet. Bottom rigs with shrimp, sand fleas, or Fishbite strips can produce any of these three species.
Those fishing the beachfront are also seeing a few speckled trout being caught.
Anglers targeting the beaches just south of Oregon Inlet have landed some slot red drum.
Temperatures are cooling down quickly, but anglers targeting many of the area’s bridges are finding a handful of sheepshead as these fish continue to work their way out.
Inshore efforts are producing some keeper speckled trout and a few puppy drum.
The offshore action is really starting to cool off, with those getting out still finding some tuna, scattered mahi, and the occasional late season marlin.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers are having success finding some trout in area creeks while casting MirrOlure MirrOdine twitch baits. The deeper creeks are a better place to start, as they are holding slightly warmer water temperatures and most of the baitfish.
Slot red drum are lurking around the Oregon Inlet area. Cut mullet or any other fresh bait will usually get them to bite. On the right day, you can still get some action with the topwater plugs.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that speckled trout fishing has been steady in the backs of creeks across the Pamlico, Albemarle, and Currituck sounds. Anglers are having the best success with popping cork setups and hard suspending lures fished slowly.
With water temperatures not fully cooled off yet, the occasional red drum could also be mixed in these same areas.
Striped bass are starting to show up, with anglers out fishing at night doing best.
On those days that the sounds are churned up, getting out in the surf has produced a pretty consistent sea mullet bite.
Charlie Hutchison, of Greensboro, landed this 27” bluefish from the surf of Cape Lookout on a yellow Zig Jig.
Billy, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers have been able to catch a few speckled trout while casting around the Little Bridge.
Those choosing to fish the Nags Head area piers and surf are catching some nice-sized black drum and a bunch of sea mullet.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that surf anglers can find some puppy drum action while soaking cut baits or casting Gulp soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads. The redfish are just about everywhere from Southern Shores down to Hatteras, and they will stick around into January.
Speckled trout are in the surf zone, with the better action in the Kitty Hawk to Nags Head area. MirrOlure MR-17s are a great lure for the specks, and this bite is likely to continue until Christmas.
Back in the sounds, the speckled trout fishing has been good this fall, and anglers can continue to pick away at fish until a freeze truly shuts everything down.
When you get the chance to run offshore, wintertime is great for blackfin tuna fishing. The preferred way to target them in the colder months is with vertical jigs.
When trolling, the blackfin tuna will also be joined by the occasional wahoo.
Bluefin tuna are the next species to arrive, with this action usually in full swing in January and February.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the blackfin tuna fishing continues to be really strong. The fleet is seeing a bigger class of blackfins hitting ballyhoo under a variety of colored Sea Witch skirts.
Those trolling are also keeping eyes out for a potential showing of yellowfin tuna.
Any time now, the area could start seeing the first bluefin tuna of the year (especially watching the action to the north). More reliably, this action tends to come after the first of the new year.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that when the opportunity arises to run offshore, anglers have been catching good numbers of blackfin tuna and a random yellowfin tuna.
Some boats are also landing scattered late season mahi and a few wahoo.
Conditions have been challenging for nearshore fishing, too, but it is believed that false albacore and bluefish are still off the beaches.
Inshore trips are catching a decent number of speckled trout, bluefish, and the occasional red drum.
Moving into the next few months, anglers start to turn their attention towards bluefin tuna.
Alex Atkins, of Martinsville, VA, caught this red drum on the sound side of Nags Head using cut mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Ben Morris of Salty Waters OBX.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that anglers that have grabbed any weather windows to run offshore are finding good numbers of blackfin tuna and a few scattered mahi.
Inshore anglers are still picking away at speckled trout, with the occasional puppy drum mixed in.
With December already here, boats start to turn their attention to the bluefin tuna bite, which is usually best in the area in January and February.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers taking advantage of mild weather days have been catching a few black drum and some sea mullet.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that anglers doing some bottom fishing are catching black drum, sea mullet, and the occasional puppy drum.
Paul, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that there is still a little action going on in the surf, with catches of puppy drum, black drum, and the occasional speckled trout.
The bite in the sound has mostly cooled off, with many looking at winter stripers as the next target.
