Northern Beaches May 26, 2011
Adam Herman with an 86 lb. citation cobia he landed after a 35 minute fight on light tackle. The big cobe fell for a bucktail with a soft plastic trailer. Weighed in at TW's Bait and Tackle.
Seth, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching solid numbers of chopper and smaller bluefish and sea mullet from the piers and surf. The choppers will take an interest in cut baits or metal casting lures when they’re schooling, and anglers can connect with the sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Cobia are showing up between Oregon Inlet and Cape Hatteras, and anglers have landed some from the piers and more while sight-casting bucktails and live eels to fish they spot cruising the surface. The cobia fishing should only improve as the water in the area continues to warm.
Inshore, anglers are seeing plenty of speckled trout in the sounds and good numbers of flounder at Oregon Inlet. Gulp baits and live finger mullet or mud minnows are top choices for the flatfish.
Offshore, the yellowfin tuna fishing is improving, and good numbers of dolphin are also making their summer migration into the area. A few blue and white marlin have been in the mix as well. Most of the action has been down towards the light tower, but warming water should have the fish pushing north soon.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen are picking up some croaker and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms. Some large bluefish (8-9 lbs.) are also feeding along the shore, and anglers can hook them on large cut baits, live baits, or metal casting lures when schools are moving through.
Anglers are also picking up sea mullet and croaker while fishing in Oregon Inlet, and the flounder fishing is turning on in the inlet as well.
Cobia are beginning to make an appearance around the inlet, and sight-casting bucktails to cruising fish is the way to hook up with them.
Inshore boats are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons behind weights and planers in and near the inlet.
Offshore, dolphin and yellowfin tuna have been making up the majority of most boats’ catches lately, and a decent blue marlin bite is shaping up off the area as well. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures is the prime strategy for most of the blue water predators. The bite is still mainly from the Point and south, but warming water should be pushing more gamefish north as the weeks pass.
Pat Naugle with a 36" bluefish he hooked on a cut bait while fishing the Ocracoke Island surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Korin, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet has been landing excellent numbers of gaffer dolphin along with continuing good yellowfin tuna fishing. Several large wahoo have been in the offshore mix lately, and boats have tallied a number of blue marlin and sailfish releases.
Inshore boats are catching big numbers of bluefish, some trout, flounder, sea mullet, and croakers while bottom fishing.
The water near the inlet warmed up to 72 degrees last week, and warming water brought on a cobia bite that should only improve over the next few weeks. Most of the cobias are falling victim to bucktail jigs that anglers are sight-casting to cruising fish.
Dave, of Skiligal Charters, reports that the gaffer dolphin fishing is improving by the week for the Oregon Inlet charter fleet. Good numbers of yellowfin tuna have been mixed in many days, and billfish like blue marlin and sailfish are also showing up in increasing numbers. The boat has also seen several mako sharks (to over 400 lbs.) lately. Trolling skirted and naked ballyhoo around temperature breaks and other offshore incongruities is producing the majority of the action.
