Northern Beaches – June 11, 2015
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing some slow surf fishing action along most of the northern beaches, but there have been a few bright spots. Several over-slot red drum have been hooked around Ramp 4 recently, and anglers are also seeing some bluefish to the north around Coquina Beach. Cut baits will fool both.
Mark Krakoviak with a black drum he hooked while surf fishing at Kill Devil Hills. Photo courtesy of TW’s Tackle.
Panfish like spot, croaker, and sea mullet should also be around and will bite shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
Inshore boaters are connecting with some decent numbers of red drum while fishing the sound. Both baits and artificial lures like soft plastics and spoons will fool the reds.
Anglers bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet are hooking some sea mullet, flounder, and gray and speckled trout.
Nearshore trolling is producing plenty of spanish mackerel for anglers dragging Clarkspoons and other flashy lures around the inlet and up and down the beachfront.
Triggerfish and amberjacks are holding on wrecks a bit further offshore and rewarding anglers in nearshore boats. The triggers will bite cut baits or squid, with live baits and artificials solid choices for the jacks.
Kristen Wilson, of Powhatan, VA, with a 13 lb., 2 oz. sheepshead that she hooked while surf fishing at Ramp 55 in Hatteras Village. Weighed in at Teach’s Lair.
Offshore trollers are still connecting with solid numbers of dolphin and yellowfin tuna. Some bigeye tuna and wahoo (both in citation sizes) have also been finding the ballyhoo and skirted lures that boats are trolling.
Billfish (sailfish and blue and white marlin) are feeding in the blue water and attacking anglers’ baits as well.
Kat, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers are connecting with big catches of yellowfin tuna and dolphin while trolling offshore of the inlet (with some limits of both). Some citation-class wahoo and bigeye tuna (100+ lbs.) are also falling for the ballyhoo and trolling lures in the boats’ wakes.
Billfish are in the mix as well, and boats released sailfish and white and blue marlin over the past week.
Nearshore trollers are connecting with big numbers of spanish mackerel while pulling flashy lures like Clarkspoons.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing fast action with pigfish, croaker, sea mullet, gray trout, flounder, and more.
Boaters working lures and soaking baits in the sound are connecting with solid numbers of puppy drum.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet remains excellent. Yellowfin tuna and dolphin continue to provide the bulk of the action, and both are falling for ballyhoo rigged with skirted lures like sea witches. Fair numbers of wahoo are mixed in to complete the meatfish slam.
Anglers are also encountering some larger game, with several bigeye tuna (to 150+ lbs.) landed recently along with a big blue marlin release.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding action with panfish like spot, croaker, puffers, sea mullet, and more. Shrimp, squid, and bloodworms are producing most of the action.
Plug casters are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas and other casting lures from the pier.
