(Captain Ned Ashby and crew releasing a giant OBX bluefin)
The capture season for Bluefin Tuna is over, but boats are still patrolling the Gulf Stream off the Carolina coast for some catch and release action for the most powerful fish alive. Giant Bluefins.
It’s not clear how much this fish weighed, possibly a half ton or more. It was huge and it was returned to the sea. Tuna action for yellowfin, bluefin and blackfin out of Oregon Inlet has been fantastic all winter. And of course, there are plenty of sharks available.
Large red drum have been at The Point in Hatteras for a couple weeks.
Anglers fishing the northern OBX are catching blow toads, trout, flounder, puppy drum and sea mullet.
Virginia Saltwater
Virginia anglers have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks. We didn’t have much of a winter, which should be good news for species like speckled trout. And it could signal an early arrival for other species.
Tautogs are already at the CBBT and on nearly all near-shore structures. Matt Lee weighed a 10-pound 2-ounce one he caught at the CBBT.
Speckled trout and puppy drum have been biting in the rivers. With the recent warm weather, they should be available inside Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets now. Cpt. Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Guide Service, has been picking up drum recently.
Stripers are being caught in the tidal rivers, but they must be released. Richard Parmelee registered a 48-inch striper with that he caught inside Lynnhaven Inlet.