Chris Bait & Tackle Report
Flounder are starting to show around the 4th Island and the High Rise. Some offshore wrecks have been producing some big fish.
Spadefish around the CBBT pilings has been a hot bite. The red drum bite has been good in the evening around Buoy 36, where anglers are using bunker for bait. Cobia are now hanging around the buoys and are being caught by those casting live eels as well as on cut bunker. Spanish are starting to show in the lower bay. Croakers have been caught around Buoy 262 and also at the Tripod out of Oyster, but with the front that went through, they have been a little hit or miss.
Spot have been starting to show at Buoy 62. Triggers have been showing up, mixed in with the spadefish at the 4th island.
Gray trout have been available around the concrete ships, but most are running small.
Virginia Saltwater
Dr. Ken Neill, III
With both the Mid-Atlantic and the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournaments this week, there are a lot of boats targeting billfish. Most of the catches are white marlin, but there are also good numbers of blue marlin, sailfish and even spearfish being caught. Along with the billfish, there has been an increase in yellowfin tuna catches. Dolphin fishing remains good, more wahoo are being caught and the bigeye tuna bite has remained consistent. If you are having a slower day on the pelagics, bottom fishing is good for tilefish and other deep-water fish. Boats overnighting are having some swordfish encounters.
Amberjack are available at the south towers and over some of the ocean wrecks. Jack crevalle are also a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower. The wrecks and artificial reefs in this area continue to produce good flounder catches along with some nice sea bass. Dolphin have been caught around the Light Tower area for most of the summer.
Spanish mackerel and small bluefish are being caught by trolling spoons along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. Some king mackerel are being caught along the oceanfront. Tarpon are still on the Eastern Shore, but they will be leaving soon. Missing for most of the summer, there have been some speckled trout caught the past couple of weeks.
The Triple Threat Tournament, sponsored by Bishop Fishing Supply, has finished up. Winners were determined by the combined lengths of the anglers’ longest cobia, red drum, and black drum. Taking first place was Rick Wineman with his 3 fish measuring 161 inches. Coming in second place was Ken Neill with a length of 149.25 inches. Taking the final money spot was Charles Southall with 149 inches. Currently, the PSWSFA club Don Forman Cobia Tournament is underway and runs the entire month of August. Register with Rick Wineman prior to catching that big fish.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Report
Wednesday, August 19, 2015. What another beautiful day of fishing on the Outer Banks. Our offshore anglers caught limits of dolphin again today. Several boats brought in nice catches of yellowfin tuna. There were also some blue & white marlin and sailfish releases today.
On half-day trips, our nearshore boats brought in some nice catches of Spanish mackerel and moonfish. All-day wreck fishing anglers brought in albacore, amberjack, barracuda, and moonfish.
Inshore anglers brought in catches of albacore, moonfish, and shark. There were multiple catch & releases of red drum.
The Miss Oregon Inlet Headboat caught flounder, bluefish, croakers, spot, sea mullet, puffers, pigfish, sea bass, and pinfish.
Call the Fishing Center at 800-272-5199! Visit our website oregon-inlet.com to view availability and book online. To buy tickets in advance for Miss Oregon Inlet, please visit missoregoninlet.com!
Nags Head
TW’s Bait And Tackle Report.
Thursday, August 20, 2015.
Surf Fishing Report: Sea Mullet, Spot and Croaker were scattered along our beaches. There is grass in the water. The wind is S at 4 and the water temp is 72 degrees.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported bottom fish.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Gray Trout, Gag Grouper and Sand Perch.
Nags Head: Blues, Spanish and Spot.
Jennette’s: Bluefish, Sea Bass and Pigfish.
Outer Banks: Assorted ottom fish.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum & Tackle Report:
On Tuesday, the Point had a morning and an afternoon Spanish bite. Ramp 43 had some Pompano and Sea Mullet. Avon had Spot, Sea Mullet and Croakers. Hatteras had Croakers, Sea Mullet and Pompano.
On Wednesday, The Point had morning and afternoon bites for both Spanish and Bluefish with Spinner Sharks mixed in. Ramp 49 had Bluefish, Blow Toads and Flounder. Avon had Sea Mullet, Croakers and Bluefish.
Hatteras Bluewater
Capt. Dave Wilson reports:
On August 18, the wave of dolphin continued. It was perfect for our young anglers, and the old guys loved it too. Another “one and done” school had us wrapped up before 8:00 AM. Later, I did a pretty good job of steering around the wahoos, only had one bite and missed him. We did have a couple of unsuccessful sailfish encounters, and also landed a couple of blackfins.
On Aug. 19, we searched eagerly, and it’s always a relief to find a big school of dolphin and get a good catch. After finishing up that morning, we spent the rest of the day trying to avoid them, and fussed when they tore up our baits. Good problem to have I guess. Wahoo fishing was scrappy. We had one bite today and won the battle.