Dr. Julie Ball reports: Surf and pier anglers braving the elements are scoring with dozens of big red drum from local bay and ocean piers. Cut mullet, bunker, and spot heads are the baits of choice. Look for the drum bite to develop around the islands of the CBBT once boats can reach them with consistency. Puppy drum are still coming from these same areas, as well as from shallows and inlets on suspended mullet and cut bait.
The inshore flounder action is an unknown with the excess rain and dirty water. But, offshore wrecks will host some nice flatfish once the weather calms, along with some jumbo sea bass, which cannot be kept right now, and big triggerfish. Bottom bouncers can find some willing tautog on some of these same structures.
Striped bass season debuts again in the Chesapeake Bay this week on October 4th. Expect results for those casting lures along the structure of the HRBT, the CBBT, and within local inlets, where school-sized stripers will respond in the light lines after dark. Be sure to follow the regulations. Anglers can keep two fish per person ranging from 20 to 28-inches, and one of the two fish may exceed 28-inches. This will stand until the regulations change again in December.
If you haven’t hooked a nice sheepshead this year, they are still lingering along the structure of the Bridge Tunnel. Plenty of triggerfish are also in these same areas, and tautog action is rekindling for the fall season. Keeper ‘togs are available along the pilings and tubes of the CBBT.
Speckled trout action is slowly improving, but with a long way to go to catch up with past years’ numbers. Scattered smaller fish, along with a few nice outlying larger fish, are coming from backwater locations and lower Bay and ocean surf lines.
The lower Bay is still holding some decent-sized spot with the northerly blows. Lower Bay and ocean front piers, Lynnhaven, Little Creek, and Rudee Inlets, the HRBT, and the CBBT are all providing catches of spot and a few croaker. Best baits are bloodworms and Fishbites, especially on a rising tide.
Cobia will likely be a mere memory after the waters settle after the storm. But some species thrive with wind and turbulent water, so with strong northerly winds and passing fronts, red drum action has been very good.
Scattered king mackerel were providing some action prior to the rain and wind setting in off Sandbridge. Spanish mackerel and false albacore may also be available in these same areas.
Deep drop trips have been scarce due to the weather, but that should change as soon as boats can get back on the water. Expect good numbers of blueline and golden tilefish, black-bellied rosefish, and a few grouper to take offerings along the canyon edges.
The billfish status off our coast is a question mark since boats have not been out for days. But once boats can get make it to deeper water, some yellowfin and big eye tuna may be around, along with increasing numbers of nice wahoo. Bailer and gaffer-sized mahi will likely continue to round out catches.
Nags Head
Tw’s Tackle reports on 10/7/15
Surf Fishing: The winds have fallen off, the sun is shining, and the water is fishable, but still very rough. I can see surf fishermen and lots of beach walkers on the beach this morning. We have NW wind at 9 and the water temp is 68 degrees.
Sound Fishing: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported lots of small Trout, some keepers, as well as Croakers and Stripers.
Pier Fishing: Avalon: Slow. Nags Head: Slow; .Jennette’s: Skate.
Outer Banks: Croaker and Black Drum. All piers have a good number of anglers this morning.
Inshore Boats/Nearshore Report: A few inshore boats fished on Tuesday. They decked Gray Trout, nice size Blues, Croaker and Stripers. One really nice Striper was caught.
Oregon Inlet
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center noted that a couple of boats from the In-Shore fleet went fishing on Wednesday, and even though it was a little slow, anglers enjoyed the pleasant weather and caught bluefish, pinfish and a few skates.
The Miss Oregon Inlet Headboat sailed Wednesday and anglers caught pigfish, pinfish, croakers, sea bass, sea mullet, under size flounder and gray trout.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum & Tackle reports: The area behind the motels produced some Puppy Drum and a few Bluefish, all caught on mullet. A 49-inch drum was caught off Avon Pier.
There were small Puppy Drum, Sea Mullet, Black Drum and Croakers caught on the Oceanside North of Buxton Wednesday afternoon.
Hatteras Offshore
Still waiting for calm seas. No report.