OBX/Northern Beaches – September 2024
Cameron, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that nearshore anglers have been doing well with catches of ribbonfish and bluefish on casting lures.
Offshore trips have been finding good numbers of mahi and amberjacks.
Inside, the speckled trout and red drum action is starting to pick up with water temperatures ticking down. More catches are coming from the artificial crowd as these fish kick their summertime lethargic movements.
Surf anglers are having success catching sea mullet, croakers, and some spot with cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that fishing has been strong, especially for speckled trout. Those targeting trout have had a lot of success fishing live baits under Red Line Rigs popping corks.
Puppy drum are striking topwater plugs and gold spoons up on the shallow flats. When targeting drop-offs and areas a little deeper, D.O.A. shrimp under popping corks are also getting some attention.
A lot of shrimp are starting to show up, and these shrimp are getting the local trout and drum fired up.
Off the beach, some schools of big red drum and the occasional cobia are still around. Both species are primarily hitting Cobia Killer bucktails. There hasn’t been a specific color pattern either species is homed in on.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that speckled trout can be found when targeting certain areas closer to the inlet. The season is starting to change, though, and soon the trout will begin to push back up north towards the back of Nags Head.
Scattered red drum are on the flats.
For both the trout and drum, anglers have found success using both live and artificial baits. With the water temperatures slightly cooling, artificial reactions have made a big jump in success rates, and topwater plugs continue to work well when on the water early in the morning.
Bluefish are all over the place and hitting just about anything.
Targeting inshore structure has produced sheepshead.
Megan Miller, of Centerville, OH, with a 46″ red drum caught on an Aqua Dream Spoon in the Neuse River. She was fishing with Capt. Brad Smith of Gunny B Outdoors.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that the northern beaches are seeing catches of sea mullet, spot, pompano, spanish mackerel, and the occasional yearling-sized red drum.
The piers have those same species, but they are also seeing false albacore and all the ribbonfish you want.
Little Bridge anglers have been catching some big croakers, as well as spot, black drum, and bluefish.
On the Bonner Bridge Pier, anglers are hooking bluefish, ribbonfish, sheepshead, and drum.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that the soundside fishing action has been all about the speckled trout and puppy drum bite.
Offshore fishing has started to fire up. Anglers have had some success targeting yellowfin tuna with topwater poppers, and a bunch of scattered billfish are around as well.
In the surf, anglers are catching good numbers of sea mullet by casting sand fleas into the wash along the sand.
Sand sharks and some puppy drum are hitting cut bait from the beaches, and the drum bite should only be picking up as we move into fall. As water temperatures cool, some speckled trout will also start occasionally showing along the beachfront.
A bunch of flounder are also around in the surf.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the area anticipates a run of white marlin in the area this fall, as reports from up north are looking really good. Smaller dink baits on 7/0 circle hooks and a light leader will be the key to success. If you’re trying to draw more attention to the spread, a couple of squid chain teasers with ballyhoo chase baits and a dredge or two will only add to your chances of success.
Anglers are already seeing a good showing of sailfish and blue marlin.
The tuna species remain very active, with catches of yellowfins, blackfins, and bigeyes. Green Machines and ballyhoo rigged under Sea Witch skirts are the best options for getting the tuna to strike.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore action has really started to pick up, with docks filling up with yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, and scattered large bigeyes.
Some good mahi numbers are coming in as well.
Billfish flags have shown releases of blue marlin and sailfish.
Nearshore trips are catching a mixed bag of spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, bluefish, and sharks.
Bigger red drum are being caught by sight casting to schools off the beach.
Inshore trips are doing well on speckled trout and red drum, with a ton of bluefish also around.
Gavin Stine, of Waynesboro, PA, caught (and released) this black drum in the Currituck Sound using cut shrimp.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that boats have been returning with fish boxes packed full of mahi.
A few wahoo and blackfin tuna are also in the counts, and releases of sailfish are rounding out most of the offshore action.
Nearshore trips continue to have some success finding the big red drum that are hanging around outside the inlet.
Other trolling and casting efforts have generated bluefish, spanish mackerel, and ribbonfish.
Bottom fishing around the inlet has been producing a bunch of sea mullet.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers doing some bottom fishing have been catching a bunch of sea mullet and some spots.
Casting efforts are producing bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Off the beach, big red drum schools are around.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing is producing quite the mixed bag for those bottom fishing. Catches have included spots, croakers, sea mullet, black drum, red drum, and bluefish.
In the sound, anglers fishing from the Nags Head area and south have been finding speckled trout and scattered puppy drum.
Nearshore anglers are having a lot of success hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Those headed offshore are finding good numbers of mahi and billfish.
