Northern Beaches – May 29, 2014
Carol Elrod, of Highland Springs, VA, with a 6.2 lb., 21″ black drum that bit a Fish Bites bloodworm off Outer Banks Pier.
Betty, of TW’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some fat sea mullet in the local surf. Sand fleas have been producing most of the mullet and are plentiful along the local beach. Surf casters are also hooking puppy drum on a variety of baits and bluefish on bait and casting lures.
Inshore, there’s been a decent flounder bite around Colington.
Anglers fishing from the little bridge on the causeway are hooking spot and other panfish on bottom rigs. Flounder and speckled trout are taking an interest in soft plastics around the bridge.
Boaters fishing the sound are connecting with some puppy drum and speckled trout along with plenty of spot and croaker.
Cobia have shown up along the beaches, where anglers are sight-casting to fish they spot from boats to hook up.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have also shown up around Oregon Inlet and along the beachfront, and they are taking an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
Offshore, the gaffer dolphin bite remains hot for boats trolling skirted ballyhoo. Yellowfin tuna are scattered but biting when boats can find them, and a few wahoo and bigeye tuna have been mixed in as well. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are also making an appearance offshore, and anglers have released all three in the past week.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing big catches of tilefish, grouper, sea bass, and more.
Robin Stewart, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, with a 50+ lb. cobia that was one of 23 caught on sight-cast eels and bucktails while she was fishing with her son Justin aboard the “Justin Time.” Also aboard were her husband T.W., Lewis Boyd, and Andrew Norris.
Carmen, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that gaffer dolphin action remains excellent for the offshore fleet, with many days producing limit catches recently. Some yellowfin tuna are also feeding offshore and falling for boats’ trolling spreads, and a few wahoo and bigeye tuna have been brought to the docks recently as well. Several blue marlin have also been released by the blue water boats lately. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are attracting most of the attention from the offshore pelagics.
Cobia (some to 70+ lbs.) are feeding along the beachfront, and boats are hooking them while sight-casting to fish cruising along the surface.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have shown up along the beachfront, and nearshore boats caught good numbers while trolling last week.
Bottom fishing around Oregon Inlet is producing plenty of action with sea mullet, spot, croaker, pigfish, and more.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the gaffer dolphin bite is still on fire east of Oregon Inlet, with multiple hookups common and big numbers of the colorful fish coming over the gunnels. Yellowfin tuna (some large fish to 70+ lbs.) are also feeding offshore and falling for the ballyhoo and trolling lures in boats’ wakes. A bigeye tuna and several mako sharks have also been surprise additions to the fish box over recent days.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier reports that plug casters have found plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish recently, and one angler released a 30” cobia that fell for a Gotcha last week.
Bottom fishermen are hooking bluefish, spot, pigfish, sea mullet, triggerfish, flounder, and more. Shrimp, cut baits, and bloodworms are fooling the bottom feeders.
