There has been some of the most spectacular speckled trout fishing in recent memory on the Outer Banks at Oregon Inlet. Acres and acres of vast grass beds draw bait like shrimp, crabs and mullet and the trout have moved in to take advantage. Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Fishing continues to put his clients on trout, with near daily limits and some nice fish, as well.
“It’s still great, as good as ever,” Reese said. “We just hope it continues after Dorian blows through,” he said.
Contact Capt. Stecher at catchem@beachbumfishing.comfor more information or to book a trip.
Elsewhere on the Outer Banks, surf anglers are catching spot and sea mullet. Soundside anglers fishing the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway are catching a lot of small puppy drum along with a few trout and some black drum.
Pier fishing is slow with cloudy, muddy water conditions. Avalon reported croakers. Nags Head reports spot, croaker and small puppy drum. Jennette’s had croaker catches. The Outer Banks Pier is producing sea mullet and croaker.
Inshore boats are finding Spanish and bluefish, and inside the inlet, it’s bluefish and specks.
Virginia Saltwater
The 466-pound swordfish, caught on August 16 by Tony Gower Jr. of Virginia Beach, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record by the Director of Virginia’s Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Gower’s catch surpassed the existing record of 446-pounds, caught in October 2012, by Joseph T. Harris, of Virginia Beach.
With a watchful eye on tropical developments to the southeast, local anglers continue to enjoy the developing fall fishery. But don’t dismiss the summer favorites just yet. Intercepting these fish as they prepare to depart the area can provide good opportunities for anglers.
Cobia are on the move as they prepare to head south and offer some outstanding top water action. Several boats reported cobia exceeding 50-pounds last week. The Virginia cobia season closes the last day of September.
Big red drum are still roaming about the lower Bay and around the shoals of the barrier islands. It is time for reds to begin showing more around the artificial islands of the CBBT. Fresh cut bait and live bait work well for this area. Big bull reds can debut in the surf lines along Sandbridge and the Wildlife Preserve at any time. A northerly blow will jump start some good drum surf fishing action.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ribbonfish trolling remains productive. The Spanish are still chasing trolled spoons off the Virginia Beach oceanfront. The most exciting news at the oceanfront is the start of what is hopefully an incredible king mackerel run. September is Virginia’s peak king mackerel season. Smoker kings have already been landed and they are crashing both live and trolled baits. Several have hit the dock weighing 50-pounds or more.
Flounder catches are improving along the coast and throughout the lower bay. Look for them around the CBBT pilons, near the rocks that cover the tunnels and around coastal reefs and wrecks. Many are caught around the jetties at Rudee and Little Creek inlets.
Buoys and wrecks are holding triggerfish and spadefish. Sheepshead numbers along the CBBT haven’t been as good as past years. Speckled trout, puppy drum, spot and croaker are inside the inlets. Trout are available along the Poquoson Flats and in bay-side creeks of the Eastern Shore.
Surf fisherman and those fishing off the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier are catching lots of spot and some croaker, sea mullet, ribbonfish, sand perch and flounder. Red drum, puppy drum, speckled trout and cobia are also a possibility.
Once the effects of the storms subside, things offshore should be very good. There’s white marlin to our north that will be making their way into Virginia waters. Also, in the mix will be blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo.