Just when you thought the fishing on the Outer Banks near Nags Head could not get better, it did. Says Capt. Reese Stecher: “We caught a 10-fish striper limit this morning up to 25 inches. We’re still catching Red Drum and Speckled Trout as well.
We lost the keeper-sized Stripers on the 12th., but caught plenty of small throwback fish. But we ended up clobbering the Drum. And we caught the keeper Stripers again on Sunday.”
Anglers fishing the surf at Nags Head are catching Black Drum, Taylor Blues, Sea Mullet, small Trout and Drum.
The anglers fishing the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway were catching keeper trout on Wednesday morning.
Avalon Pier produced Spot, Blues, Trout, Sea Mullet and Puppy Drum.
Nags Head Pier had Taylor Blues, Croakers, Sea mullet, Trout and a Red Drum.
Jennette’s anglers caught Speckle Trout, Bluefish, Spot, Puppy Drum, Stripers and 1 Red Drum.
Outer Banks Pier caught Black Drum, Spot, Sea Mullet and Trout.
Offshore, the fleet sailed on Tuesday. Eleven charters returned with blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna and dolphin.
The inshore boats out of Oregon Inlet had catches of cobia, albacore, king mackerel, sea bass and triggerfish.
Hatteras
On Wednesday, surf fishermen caught drum at The Point ranging in size from about 19 inches all the way up to 38 inches. There were a couple unconfirmed reports of citations as well. Mixed in with the drum were Taylor Blues and Sea Mullet. There were Slot Drum and Flounder caught at the jetties. The south beaches had some action as well with Puppy Drum and Sea Mullet.
Bluewater boats out of Hatteras Harbor stayed at the docks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Inshore charters ran out into the Pamlico Sound and had a good day catching and releasing big Red Drum.
Virginia Saltwater
Spot fishing is good, and it’s getting better. Virginia anglers are boating the tasty fish – many in the one-pound range – across the bay and into the tidal tributaries. Bloodworms are the ticket. Large sized croakers should start biting hook and line soon. The commercial guys are netting them now.
Anglers are catching some puppy drum, but most fish are under the slot limit. Some larger red drum are being found on the shoals of the Eastern Shore’s barrier islands. Some big black drum are in the same areas.
Flounder are being caught in Eastern Shore creeks and inlets and things should continue to pick up. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports small striped bass remain a catch-and-release target. Fish continue to be active inside Lynnhaven Inlet and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Boston mackerel have been caught in ocean waters. Deep-dropping baits and jigs along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon continue to produce nice tilefish.