Northern Beaches August 16, 2012
Roman Lewett, of GreenBrae, CA, with a 43 lb. wahoo that struck a ballyhoo under a blue/white sea witch 38 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet while he was fishing with Dave Timpy on the "Wave Length."
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent surf fishing particularly around Corolla and the northern beaches. Sea mullet, spot, bluefish, smaller puppy drum, and more are feeding just off the beaches, and shrimp, bloodworms, or cut baits will tempt them to bite.
Anglers fishing the sound are still reporting solid speckled trout fishing from boats while casting live baits and soft plastics.
Those on the little bridge pier at Manteo are connecting with more trout along with some sheepshead and croaker.
The local piers are reporting some croaker, spot, sea mullet, small puppy drum, and flounder for bottom fishermen. Some bluefish are taking an interest in metal lures worked from the piers.
Trolling small spoons and casting metal lures around Oregon Inlet is still producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel for inshore boats.
Bottom fishermen hitting the AR’s and other structure off the inlet are catching big numbers of triggerfish, primarily on squid.
Offshore trollers are still seeing action with yellowfin and blackfin tuna and dolphin. Decent numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin are in the mix as well, and skirted and naked ballyhoo are attracting the majority of the attention from the billfish and other offshore predators.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite is going strong for the offshore fleet. Some blackfins are mixed in, and boats are also finding solid dolphin action many days. Boats also landed several bigeye tuna (100-200+ lbs.) over the past week.
Tom DeLore landed this 232 lb. bigeye tuna while fishing out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center with Capt. Harry Baum, Jr., and mate Jeff Stone on the "Rebait."
The billfish bite is heating up as well, with good numbers of sailfish and white marlin releases over the past week, along with some blue marlin action. The offshore pelagics are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding around and just off Oregon Inlet, where anglers can hook them on trolled Clarkspoons or other small, flashy lures.
Bottom fishing at structure off the inlet is producing plenty of action with triggerfish.
Speckled trout are on the feed in the sound, and inshore boats are hooking good numbers on soft plastics and live baits, with the best bite early in the morning. Good numbers of puppy drum (though most are undersized) are mixed in.
Bottom fishing around the inlet and sound is attracting attention from flounder, sea mullet, sea robins, croaker, and puffers.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin bite is still going strong around weedlines and floating debris to the south of the Point.
Some black and yellowfin tuna are feeding around the point and to the north, and wahoo and sailfish have also been in the mix of late. Skirted and naked ballyhoo are tempting the bites from the pelagic predators.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a summer mixed bag of spot, sea robin, croaker, sand perch, pigfish, sea mullet, spadefish, and more. Shrimp, bloodworms, and other boats on bottom rigs are producing most of the action.
Some bluefish are also taking an interest in the bottom rigs and in metal lures worked from the pier.
