The stripers in the sound are still biting, says Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Guide Service, but the powers that be won’t report it. The thinking goes that if more anglers knew about the inshore bite, fewer would take the bluewater trips offshore. Regardless, CvilleBuzz is happy to report the good news and to urge anglers interested in catching a quick limit of stripers to head for the sounds at Nags Head. If you need a captain, contact Reese at Beach Bum Fishing, www.beachbumfishing.com, (252) 449-0232.
Also from Nags Head, TW’s reports on Nov. 12:
Surf Fishing: It is another beautiful day on the Outer Banks. The water is somewhat rough with nice size clean swells. There are scattered Bluefish, Trout and Puppy Drum along the north beaches. The water is clear and the Trout and Bluefish should be biting. The winds are S at 7 and the water temp is 64 degrees.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Loads of Blues.
Nags Head: Plenty of Blues and Trout.
Jennette’s: Lots of Blues and Puffers.
Outer Banks: Trout and Bluefish. Had a nice Puppy Drum bite yesterday at high tide.
Oregon Inlet
Through Thursday, the last time boats left Oregon Inlet was 11-7 when Oregon Inlet Fishing Center had this report: The weather cooperated today and was beautiful until about time for the Off Shore Charters to return to the dock and then the bottom fell out. The charters had a good day of fishing though. Off shore boats are still reeling in Yellow Fin Tuna, Black Fin Tuna and Dolphin. True Grit also caught and released a beautiful Sailfish today.
The Near Shore and In Shore charters had a good day catching an enormous amount of Gray Trout and Stripers.
Virginia Saltwater
By Dr. Julie Ball
As water temperatures continue to cool, many cold water species are becoming more active.
Typical for this time of year, anglers are now turning their interests to the lower Bay striped bass fishery. Although the best is yet to come, anglers taking advantage of weather windows of opportunity are finding some quality fish. Reports are mixed, with some faring better than others. Although most fish are stretching from around18 to 26-inches, a few fish between 32 to 40-inches are also around. But the larger fish are on their way. For now, school-sized rockfish are responding to casters working the pilings along the CBBT, while anglers working the rocks and the tubes of the 1st and 2nd islands with Storm lures and Wind Cheaters are finding the biggest fish lately. One boat reported an outstanding trip this week, hooking over 100 fish measuring to over 30-inches on top water lures. Plenty of school-sized fish are also hitting at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and the Monitor Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel for both casters and trollers.
Bay tautog action continues to improve. Anglers are finding good hauls of nice keeper fish from lower Bay wrecks and bridge structures when they can get out. Fiddler crabs are still the best offering if you can find them, but they are becoming scarce. The larger fish are becoming more active on deeper water wrecks, but the weather is always a limiting factor. Scattered sheepshead are still coming from these same structures within the Bay, while triggerfish are active on several wrecks and coastal structures. Good numbers of jumbo sea bass are also responding on many deeper wrecks, with the Triangle wrecks a popular location. Big bluefish could be circling the near Triangle wrecks and other offshore structures, but few boats have tried for them. Flounder reports from Bay waters are hard to come by lately, but wreck anglers are still returning to the docks with a few respectable flatfish.
The speckled trout bite still leaves much to be desired, but at least we have a trout bite. Most fish are not up to the standards typical to this time of year, but backwater casters are mostly content with some speck catches pushing to around 24-inches. Most of the keeper fish are coming from Lynnhaven, Rudee, and Little Creek Inlets lately.
Inshore, the panfish scene is slowing, with the season likely becoming a memory within the next week or so. A few nice spot are still hitting here and there, especially in Rudee Inlet, along with an occasional croaker. Puppy drum are more likely, with some pups responding to cut bait and lures intended for speckled trout. A few lingering big red drum are also still a possibility along the surflines off Sandbridge and near the CBBT.
Deep dropping is good when boats can get out. Anglers are still finding good hauls of big blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and rosefish in deeper water. Scattered grouper pushing to 40-pounds are also responding in some of these same areas near the Canyon. Although no official word of any boated fish, bluefin tuna are a possibility from the Chesapeake Light Tower out to the inshore lumps.
On the bluewater scene, wahoo are still main event. A few boats making it out this week returned with multiple big ‘hoos weighing over 60-pounds. Billfish are mostly gone, but scattered releases are still rounding out recent catches. Some yellowfin tuna are also hitting the docks lately, along with some bailer mahi. Swordfish are a possibility, but this fishery will improve as the waters cool.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum Tuesday Fishing Report:
Between Ramp 43 to the Point, anglers beached Puppy Drum, Yearling, Sea Mullet, and Black Drum. A group of four caught and released a mix of 14 Puppy Drum and Yearlings. We had a lady fisherman bring in four citation Sea Mullet caught in Avon. Avon had Puppy Drum and Sea Mullet. Dan Dugan was fishing for Big Drum tonight and caught a 15 -inch Flounder. That Flounder must have been really hungry.
Wednesday Fishing Report:
Good reports on fishing today. Ramp 43 to the Point produced lots of Bluefish, Sea Mullet, small Black Drum, Puppy Drum and a few Yearlings. The new ramp at Frisco Pier had Bluefish and Sea Mullet. Ramp 38 had Sea Mullet and Puppy Drum. From the Motel to the Jetties, it was Sea Mullet and Puppy Drum. We heard of some nice Flounders caught today also. Brett Jordan had a 1-14 Sea Mullet. His friend Carey Evans had 1-7 Sea Mullet. Red Drum & Tackle has fresh Mullet and Bunker in stock and thank all our veterans for their service and their sacrifice.