North Beaches – July 2, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with small bottom feeders like spot, sea mullet, and croaker while soaking baits in the local surf.
Bottom fishermen on the little bridge on the causeway are hooking more panfish and some black drum. Anglers working artificials in the area are connecting with legal and undersized speckled trout.
Those fishing the sound from boats are hooking up with slot and over-slot red drum on bait and artificial lures.
Anglers trolling around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish. Most are falling for Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
The offshore fleet is still connecting with good numbers of yellowfin tuna along with some dolphin and wahoo. Some large (to 200+ lbs.) bigeye tuna are mixed, in, and anglers are releasing blue and white marlin as well. The majority of the blue water predators are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Zeb Wilcox, of Wilkes, NC, with a 30″ puppy drum he caught and released off Jennette’s Pier after it fell for Gulp bait he was working in the surf zone.
Kat, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers continue to connect with yellowfin tuna along with some bigeyes (most 100-200 lbs.). Some dolphin and wahoo have been mixed in and also taking an interest in trollers’ baits.
Those trolling closer to the beachfront are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while pulling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Amberjacks are schooled up around structure not far off the beachfront, and they’re biting live baits and artificial lures.
Triggerfish are holding on much of the same structure and will bite small cut baits on bottom rigs.
Some cobia and sharks have also been providing action for nearshore boaters over the past week.
Anglers bottom fishing in Oregon Inlet are connecting with croaker, sea mullet, spot, gray trout, and more.
Red drum (both slot and over-slot fish) are feeding in the sound and biting artificial lures and rigged baits for small boat anglers.
Casey and Matt Lusk with a limit catch of flounder they hooked while fishing the Pamlico Sound with Salt Minded Charters.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers continue to encounter good numbers of yellowfin tuna and gaffer and bailer dolphin while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet. Bigeye tunas (some to 200+ lbs.) continue to feed in the same areas as well. Anglers are hooking most of the fish on skirted ballyhoo, but trolling spoons have been effective recently as well. Schools of smaller dolphin have also been falling for chunks of squid and cut baits when they show up around the boat.
There are also still blue marlin feeding off the inlet and taking some interest in trollers’ baits.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet, spot, and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp and squid.
Some bluefish are taking an interest in bottom rigs and metal casting lures that anglers are working.
Several large crevalle jacks, a cobia, and a king mackerel have been landed by anglers fishing live baits from the end of the pier over the past week.
