The relatively mild winter has kept lots of stripers hanging around in the sounds behind Nags Head. Though the bite is slow, hardy anglers are catching fish in Mann’s Harbor and other parts of the sound. Some very nice speckled trout are also showing.
Surf fishing has been hit of miss – mostly miss with a few puppy drum beached in Hatteras. Offshore, the bluefin bite has been very good when boats can sail. Some yellowfins are also the mix.
There is a coastal wind and flood advisory in effect through Friday, so if you’re on the Outer Banks, be careful. The water temperature in the ocean is currently 48 degrees.
Freshwater Update
Believe it or not, February is one of the best months of all to catch a trophy largemouth. Stan Cobb at Greentop suggests Lake Anna, Gaston, Kerr, Smith Mountain and some of the other smaller lakes like the Chickahominy, Chesdin and Sandy River Reservoir.
Heavy rains this week will effectively squash the smallmouth bite on our rivers. Some stripers are active at Buggs and Anna.
Crappie are biting here and there but the action is slow overall. The yellow perch run should be underway shortly in many rivers.
And don’t forget about walleye. They spawn soon and will bite at Anna, Lake Orange, the Rivanna River, Lake Chesdin, Gaston and at Buggs Island.