Northern Beaches August 18, 2011
Trent Williams (age 10), from Wilmington, with his first citation red drum, caught while he was fishing near the mouth of the Neuse River with his father and Capt. Wayne Dunbar of Paradise Shores Adventures.
Jess, of TW’s Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers have been picking up some spot, croaker, and other bottom feeders while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Flounder fishing has been decent in Oregon Inlet, but the water temperature fell at the beginning of the week and slowed the bite a bit. Live baits and Gulps have been fooling the flatties.
Trolling in and just off Oregon Inlet and the beach nearby has been producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish. Clarkspoons are the ticket to hooking both.
Offshore, boats are hooking up with decent numbers of yellowfin tuna and a few bigeyes. The white marlin bite is good and getting better, and boats also reported some blue marlin action over the week. Skirted and naked ballyhoo are fooling the tuna and marlin.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that offshore boats are connecting with some good catches of yellowfin tuna while trolling down around the Point. Billfishing is turning on, with boats releasing white marlin and some sailfish and blue marlin to the northeast of Oregon Inlet on many days. Dolphin are still in the offshore mix and scattered all over the area. All the offshore pelagics are taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Some amberjacks are feeding on the wrecks offshore of Oregon Inlet, although it’s still a little bit slow compared to previous years. Live baits like bluefish will tempt bites from the AJ’s.
Nearshore trolling has been producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Anglers are reporting a few keeper flounder in Oregon Inlet, and live baits and Gulps are fooling them.
Surf fishermen have been hooking some sea mullet, croaker, and spot on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms. Big numbers of bluefish are moving through the surf as well, and they’re taking an interest in bottom rigs and small metal lures.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the dolphin action is still solid for the offshore fleet (with a few gaffers continuing to be mixed in with the bailers). Yellowfin and blackfin tuna have also been rewarding many offshore trollers. A few bigeye tuna (100-200 lbs.) and some large wahoo are ending up in the fish boxes as well. The billfish bite is off to a solid start for the season, and good numbers of white marlin, scattered blue marlin, and a few sailfish releases have been tallied over the past week.
Skirted and naked ballyhoo are fooling all the blue water gamefish.
Inshore boats are continuing to find good spanish mackerel and bluefish action while trolling spoons near the inlet and beachfront.
The speckled trout bite has been decent in the inlet and sound lately.
Some flounder and other bottomfish are also showing up on inshore trips.
Aylwin Tysinger, of Lexington, NC, with a citation 5 lb., 5 oz. flounder he hooked in Hatteras Inlet. Photo courtesy of JAM at Teach's Lair Marina.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports the white marlin action is heating up offshore of Oregon Inlet, with many boats recording multiple releases.
Good dolphin and yellowfin tuna action has been keeping plenty of meat in the fish box as well.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working metal casting lures from the pier. A false albacore also fell for one of the lures last week.
Bottom fishermen are decking more bluefish , plenty of spot, as well as croaker, pigfish, and a few sea mullet. Shrimp and bloodworms are getting their attention.
