Northern Beaches July 19, 2012
Eddie McCauley with a 30 lb. cobia and Troy Moore with an 11 lb. bluefish, both fooled by pin-rigged live baits off Nags Head Pier.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some spot, croaker, sea mullet, and bluefish while bottom fishing the local surf and piers. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are all effective.
Inshore anglers are connecting with some speckled trout, black drum, and spot from the Little Bridge pier.
Boaters fishing the sound are finding more speckled trout action while working soft plastic baits.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge, and anglers are hooking them while dangling sand fleas next to the pilings.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding around Oregon Inlet and along the beaches, where trolled Clarkspoons are producing plenty of action.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with good numbers of triggerfish and black sea bass around the nearshore wrecks off Oregon Inlet.
Offshore trollers are reporting excellent billfish action, with sailfish and blue and white marlin taking an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo as well as baitless trolling lures.
Gaffer dolphin are still feeding around weedlines offshore, along with a few wahoo. And some yellowfin tuna are still around, though they’ve been scattered. The same baits that anglers are trolling for billfish will attract attention from the meatfish as well.
Bill, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some solid billfish action off the inlet with plenty of release citations for white and blue marlin and sailfish.
Gaffer dolphin, wahoo, and some scattered yellowfin tuna are rounding out the offshore fleet’s catch.
Black sea bass and triggerfish are feeding on the wrecks off Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking them on bottom fishing charters.
Trolling small spoons around the inlet is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and tailor bluefish.
Bottomfish (like croaker, puffers, sea mullet, and more) are feeding in the deeper water around the inlet and biting squid and cut baits.
The speckled trout bite remains strong in the sound.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still catching yellowfin tuna while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet, with the best action around the Tuna Hole lately. The bite’s been a bit up-and-down, with solid action one day and a slower pick at the fish the next. Some blackfin and skipjack tuna and scattered wahoo are also in the mix.
Briana Wilson with the first place trophy for spot in the Priate's Cove Small Fry Tournament. She hooked the 5 oz. fish on Outer Banks Pier.
Gaffer and bailer dolphin are still feeding to the south of the tunas, especially around weedlines and color changes. Rigged ballyhoo or pitchbaits—like squid and chunks—will tempt bites from the dolphin.
Sailfish and some blue and white marlin are feeding alongside the dolphin and yellowfins, and boats fishing further to the north are encountering even better billfish action.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, spadefish, croaker, gray trout, and more on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, squid, bloodworms, and other baits.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around the pier when the water’s clean, and they’re taking an interest in Gotcha plugs.
A few speckled trout are biting in the early morning hours.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Live baiters landed cobia and a 45 lb. king mackerel from the pier last week.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are connecting with good numbers of bottomfish like sea mullet, spot, and croaker on double hook rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Flounder and speckled trout are feeding just off the sand as well, and they’re taking an interest in small live baits or Gulps.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait along the beachfront and some days are coming into range of surf anglers in the mornings and evenings. Small metal casting jigs will tempt bites from both when they’re around.
Casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics in the sound is producing some speckled trout action.
Flounder and gray trout are feeding in Oregon Inlet and will bite soft plastics or a variety of live and natural baits.
Inshore trolling is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish, mostly on Clarkspoons.
Some cobia are in the same vicinity, and anglers are hooking them on live baits and bucktail jigs.
Sea bass and triggerfish are feeding around bottom structure just off the beaches, and both will take an interest in squid or cut baits.
Wrecks and other structure further off the beaches are producing plenty of action with amberjacks for anglers dropping live baits.
Larger black sea bass and tilefish are feeding around the same structure (in around 200’ of water) and will pounce on squid, cut baits, and other offerings fished on the bottom.
Offshore trollers are finding a solid billfish bite, with good numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin releases recently. The dolphin action is still steady around weedlines and grass patches. A few wahoo are in the same areas.
There are still some yellowfin tuna around as well, but they’re becoming more scattered.
