Lots of fish scatter when a big blow comes through, but the drum stay put. They actually like it when the surf is rough. It stirs up bait and all sorts of juicy snacks for the reds.
Dr. Julie Ball reported that the red drum brigade took off over the past week in the lower Bay and along coastal shorelines. These prized fighters thrive in churned water, and respond aggressively during fronts. Surf anglers are thrilled with the recent explosion of activity in the surf lines, and pier anglers are tangling with big drum from both lower Bay and oceanfront fishing piers. Puppy drum stretching to over 28-inches are also swarming in these same areas, as well as within the local inlets and shallows.
Spot activity also intensifies when the wind blows from the north. With the increasing gusts over the past few days, local spot fishing is now off the charts. Surf and pier anglers are flocking to the edges of inlets and shorelines, and lining the rails of local fishing piers to claim their share as they fill coolers to the brim with big yellowbelly spot. Bloodworms are the ticket on an incoming tide. This bite should remain hot well into next week.
Horse croaker are hitting on the Hampton Bar, near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and along the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel, where shrimp is the favored bait this week. Lower Bay inlets are also holding some nice hardheads.
Speckled trout continue to gradually show improving catches in the Eastern Shore creeks, and shorelines, and lower Bay shallows and inlets. Only time will tell if this fishery can rebound from last winter’s harsh weather.
Flounder action was decent before the recent blow, with flatfish responding along the lower Bay channels and shoal edges, as well as the Baltimore and Thimble Shoal Channels, near buoy 36A, and off Kiptopeke for drifters. Fish up to 23-inches were hitting for those working jigs near the CBBT structure. This trend could dwindle with the blustery front, which will likely muddy Bay waters. Offshore and inshore wrecks are also producing nice keeper flounder. Big sea bass are also available on these wrecks, along with some nice triggerfish and tautog, but the sea bass season is now closed. Tog catches could be good in Bay waters once the winds subside and the waters clear. When anglers can get out, excellent sheepshead action continues along the CBBT, with fish up to 13-pounds caught recently. Big triggerfish over 4-pounds are also hitting in these same areas near the CBBT, along with tautog averaging 4-pounds.
King mackerel are still a possibility off Sandbridge and down to False Cape, with some nice smokers boated before the weather settled in. A few nice Spanish mackerel are also still lingering in these same areas, along with schools of big false albacore and scattered bailer and gaffer-sized mahi.
Deep droppers are scoring with good catches of golden tilefish, rounding out the usual bag of blueline tiles and black-bellied rosefish while fishing in the Norfolk Canyon.
Fall offshore action is good, with billfish providing chances for releases of both white and blue marlin, but the recent storm system could scatter the water and push these fish out. Catches of decent yellowfin tuna and some bigeye tuna are possible, along with nice mahi. Wahoo action is still on the rise, and should continue into October. A few swordfish are starting to show, with this action typically improving over the colder months.
Oregon Inlet
Offshore boats have remained in port for over a week. The billfish may well be gone when Hurricane Joaquin finally blows through.
Nags Head
TW’s Bait And Tackle reports on 10-1:
There were some Blues reported caught Wednesday. Water is rough again today. The wind is N at 9 and the water temp is 75 degrees.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Specks, some keepers, Croakers, Flounder and Stripers on live bait. The striper season open for sound Stripers today. You can keep 3 per day, 18 inches or greater. Pier Fishing Report: Avalon: Black Drum, Pompano and one Red Drum. Nags Head: Small Mullet, small Trout and Spot. Jennette’s: A Red Drum was caught early and Sea Mullet. Outer Banks: Slow. Inshore Boats/Nearshore Report: Despite the weather, the nearshore anglers caught Blues, Spanish and Albacore. The inlet boats caught Trout, Bluefish and bottom fish. There were Red Drum and Shark releases. The head boat also fished yesterday and decked Croakers, Sea Bass, Gray Trout, Mullet and Flounder. On Sept. 29, TW’s reported: |
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway had a few small Trout Flounder and Croaker.
The Piers
Avalon: Small blues and small Black Drum.
Nags Head: Mullet and Spot.
Jennette’s: A few Sea Mullet and Bluefish.
Outer Banks: Small Black Drum, Bluefish, Spot and Pompano. Caught two big Drum last night.
Inshore Boats/Nearshore: A few inshore boats caught some Puppy Drum.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum & Tackle said they opened the Point up at 1:30 on Wednesday. The ones that walked out this morning caught Bluefish on sting silvers and glass minnows. This afternoon when they opened the Point to driving, some Puppy Drum and Bluefish were caught. North Beaches had Flounder and Bluefish.
On Tuesday, Ramp 43 and 38 had some Puppy Drum, Small Black Drum, a couple of Flounder and Bluefish. The water has calmed down somewhat.
On Monday, most Ramps North of Buxton have been opened back up; unfortunately the ramps South of Buxton are still closed due to the storm. Some decent size Sea Mullet and Drum were caught off Ramp 38. A Few Bluefish and Puppy Drum were caught behind the Motel-Jetty area.
Hatteras Offshore
On September 29, Capt. Dave Wilson was finally able to get out of port and had good luck. “Dolphin fishing was good today, and even though we didn’t have any wahoo action, there were a few caught. Now we are looking forward to dealing with a major weather event this weekend.”