Dr. Ken Neill III reports that offshore action is very good right now. The September white marlin run is going strong. Good numbers of blue marlin plus some sailfish and spearfish were around making for slam opportunities. Though this is usually billfish month, a tremendous bigeye tuna bite at the Norfolk Canyon has grabbed most of the attention. Limit catches of yellowfin tuna along with some bigeye tuna are being caught on the chunk at night at the Washington Canyon. If that was not enough tuna, longfins also made a showing this week. Dolphin catches remain good, and with all of the wahoo being caught, you would think it is October already.
Trolling around the schools of bait between the beach and the Chesapeake Light Tower will produce false albacore and there is the possibility of a big king mackerel. Jack crevalle may also be found roaming around the bait schools or at the Light Tower or over the wrecks in the area. An amberjack is also a possibility but the south towers remain the best bet for those. You will find flounder around the coastal wrecks along with sea bass on the structure with spadefish hovering over.
Red drum continue to be caught around the shoals near the bay mouth and more are being caught around the islands of the CBBT. Cobia are moving out and are being caught off of the Outer Banks now. They have not all gone though and some are being picked off of the buoys and in open waters near the bay mouth and along the coast as they pod up and move south. Red drum are a likely encounter as you hunt for cobia.
Sheepshead fishing remains very good at the CBBT and there are some big triggerfish also being caught by the sheepshead anglers. Flounder are being caught here though some of the coastal wrecks are more productive. The September run of nice spot seems to be starting with some good catches here and there. If it is going to happen, it should happen soon with all of the NE wind we have been having. Speckled trout fishing just is not going to be very good this fall, but there are some being caught.
Eastern Shore
Chris Bait & Tackle reports: Croaker have been hit and miss at 262, but this northeast winds might change that. Red Drum are still out off Cape Charles late in the day. Sharks are in full force while fishing for reds and cobia. Cobia are still around skimming the surface. Sea mullet are off Kiptopeke where blues and small grey trout have also been in the mix. Spadefish are still around the 4th island. Speckled trout are starting to show in the bayside creeks. Some croaker and a mix of bottom fish are at Kiptopeke pier.
Nags Head
TW’s Daily Fishing Report on 9/10/15.
Surf Fishing: Surf fishing continues to be slow on the north beaches. A few small Pompano and Sea Mullet were reported. We have light SW winds and the water temp is 77 degrees.
Sound Fishing: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Trout and bottom fish.
Pier Fishing:
Avalon: 1 Spanish.
Nags Head: Few Blues & Spanish.
Jennette’s: Spot.
Outer Banks: Pompano and Sea Mullet.
Inshore Boats/Nearshore: Plenty of Spanish, lots of Blues, Amberjack, Albacore, some King Mackerel and one Barracuda. One trip caught lots of Triggers and Sea Bass. Inshore boats also caught Spanish, Blues, Drum and a 71 lb. citation Cobia.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
OFFSHORE: On Sept. 9, the tuna are starting to wander back in! Anglers, including those from a make-up charter, brought in limits of dolphin as well as a limit of the prized yellowfins. A citation catch of a 60-pound wahoo was also recorded. There were 29 white marlin, 3 blue marlin, 3 sailfish released today.
NEARSHORE: Morning and afternoon anglers brought in some nice Spanish, blues, and albacore. Several all- day anglers brought in king mackerel, albacore, amberjack, triggerfish, and sea bass as well as 1 barracuda.
INSHORE: Morning and afternoon anglers were catching Spanish, blues, scattered ribbonfish, and drum. Wayne Ayels had a 71-pound cobia.
HEADBOAT: Morning anglers were catching flounder, bluefish, puffer, pigs, pins, sea bass, and released some small cobia.
Hatteras Surf
On Tuesday Red Drum & Tackle reported that The Point had Bluefish, Spanish and Albacore late in the afternoon, mostly caught on glass minnows. Ramp 55 had nice keeper Flounder caught on Jig Heads and Gulp. Ramp 49 some nice keeper Pompano and Sea Mullet using Blood Worms and Shrimp.
Ramp 49 had nice Bluefish this Wednesday. The Point had Spanish, Blues and Albacore both morning and evening, all caught on glass minnows. Everyone had fun catching the Albacore. They put up a great fight.