For most boats, it was a week to stay in port and work on the decks and motors at Oregon Inlet.
A few boats ventured out on Monday and caught mahi-mahi and had good results with billfish. There were 9 white marlins, 2 sailfish, and 1 blue marlin released Monday. Since then, most boats stayed inshore. A few went just offshore and caught kings, blues and Spanish. Monday, most boats have remained at port due to high winds and choppy seas.
Virginia Saltwater
Fishing has been very good for most species right up to the northeast blow, says Dr. Ken Neill III. The remaining cobia concentrated at the mouth of the bay and along the oceanfront making for some good sight-fishing opportunities. It is likely that they will be gone when the water is fishable again.
Spot fishing remains good from local piers and inside protected waters. The spot bite is better than it has been the past several years. Good numbers of spot are being caught with some pushing the one-pound mark. Another fish being caught during the blow is the red drum. Anglers braving the winds on the piers of Virginia and North Carolina are catching some big reds. Prior to the blow, the CBBT red drum bite was excellent and the reds will probably still be there when the water calms down. Sheepshead fishing was excellent at the CBBT and on wrecks in the bay. The action ahead may be less excellent, but there should still be sheeps available when the wind stops blowing.
The tautog season had just opened when the wind machine started. Fish were being caught at the CBBT and other inshore structures but that fishery will just continue to get better as the waters cool. Some big kings and a lot of nice Spanish mackerel were being caught along the oceanfront. We will see if they are still there when things settle down. October can be a good mackerel month in the Chesapeake Light Tower area and kings, Spanish, and big false albacore were being caught there right before the blow. October is also a good month to drop a live bait down around the legs of the Chesapeake Light Tower for a possible amberjack or jack crevalle.
Flounder and triggerfish will be waiting for us on the coastal wrecks when we can get back out there. You must now release any sea bass that you catch as that fishery is now closed through October 21. There will be plenty of small bluefish in the lower bay and in the coastal waters. October is the month we will start looking for the arrival of chopper blues out on the ocean wrecks.
There are some speckled trout being caught on the flats and all of the other normal speck locations. More small striped bass are being caught as well as the occasional puppy drum. It is time to fish the docks at night as all of these fish are coming to the lights around most any dock.
Offshore, action was excellent right on up to the blow. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna were being caught in the canyons. Boats were coming in with riggers full of billfish flags. Dolphin were everywhere. Good numbers of wahoo were being caught and overnight boats were having success with swordfish. When things calm down, the question will be the dolphin and billfish bites. That could be over or we could have another run at them. If anything, the swordfish, tuna and wahoo bites should be even better.
Chincoteague
Capt. Bob’s Marina reports that Sherry Rubichaud, from Martinsburg, WV, was fishing with Capt. Jay Lalonde, out at the CI Buoy when her reel started zinging. All by her petite little self, Sherry pulled up an awesome 60-lb. citation, 55″ Cobia.
Shark fishing has been so good that Nikki and Duke Fiel of William Port, PA chartered with Capt. Andrew just to catch shark! They chartered several trips aboard Miss Ashley and weren’t disappointed with a number of fine tooth sharks up to 4-feet. The party used bunker near the CI buoy.
Nags Head
TW’s Bait And Tackle reports:
Surf Fishing Report: We are having some rough weather. The surf has not been fishable this week. This weather should bring in some Drum. The winds are NE at 27, gusting at 29 and the water temp is 74 degrees. I see no break in the weather in the near future.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported small Trout, Croakers and Stripers. The Oregon Inlet Bridge anglers caught Bluefish.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Catching Spot. Caught 2 Drum last night.
Nags Head: None.
Jennette’s: Nothing
Outer Banks: Not catching.
Inshore Boats/Nearshore Report: A few boats sailed and brought in Blues and Spanish. There were Red Drum caught inside the inlet including a 50 in and 49 in citation.
Hatteras Surf
Red drum & Tackle reports: Tuesday anglers enjoyed a decent bite of bluefish out on the Point with a few really pretty slot puppy drum in the mix. Ramp 49 had some bluefish and some small pompano. Rumors of some big drum have been stirring up down here at the shop, makes sense with the North East wind.
On Wednesday, the few who could stand the windy and rainy weather at the Point paid off. This morning a few Puppy Drum, 36 inch Drum and 48 inch Drum. Tonight at the Point Puppy Drum, Yearlings and 40inch plus. It is going to be a little rough fishing for the next few days but the wind did bring in the Drum.
Hatteras Offshore
No report. Too windy to fish since last weekend.