Capt. Reese Stecher says he wasn’t planning on fishing for stripers when the NC season opened back on the first of October. He and clients had been having great luck with speckled trout. But after several fruitless hours trying to entice the specks into biting, Capt. Stecher switched gears and tried for the stripers at Oregon Inlet – with great success.
Stecher’s party caught between 30 and 40 stripers and 5 were nice keepers. In past years, the big stripers begin showing up at Oregon Inlet in late October, so this year they may move in earlier – assuming Matthew didn’t drive them away.
To book a trip with Beach Bum Guide Service, contact Capt. Reese Stecher at www.beachbumfishing.com or call (252) 449-0232.
Virginia Saltwater
By Dr. Ken Neill, III
We got hit by a bit of a storm last week and it is taking a little time for the boats to get back out there. Prior to Matthew, the offshore bite was good. A lot of dolphin were being caught, wahoo catches were good from Ocean City to Hatteras and the tuna bite was picking up. Some billfish were still being caught. When we get back out there, expect the wahoo and tuna bite to even be better. There will still be dolphin to be caught and this is a great time of year to catch a swordfish. Offshore, bottom fishing was and will continue to be excellent until the spiny dogfish show up in the winter. The sea bass season will reopen on October 22, which will make bottom fishing even more attractive.
The sea bass opening will also make wreck fishing more interesting. The wrecks are holding sea bass, triggerfish, and good numbers of flounder. Amberjack should still be available at the southern towers. A big jack crevalle would be a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower. Trolling spoons around the tower and wrecks in the area will produce false albacore and possibly king mackerel. Big red drum are making their move down the beach. Anglers are catching them from the ocean piers and from the surf from Virginia and North Carolina.
Inshore, the spot were biting almost through the storm as our local fishing piers stayed open as much as possible. Spot continue to be caught from the piers. Speckled trout, puppy drum, and striped bass catches are good as anglers get back out in protected waters. Creating a lot of interest has been an exceptional run of big shrimp in our waters. Most creeks, inlets, rivers, and flats are holding good numbers of shrimp. Most of the striped bass are small but some nice fish to over 30 inches have been caught in the York and James Rivers. There were big sheepshead at the CBBT right up to the storm and there are probably still a few there where tautog catches are also picking up.
Nags Head
TW’s Bait and Tackle reports:
On Tuesday the surf was finally fishable.
On Wednesday, the winds were NE at 13 and the water 67 degrees. Another day of strong surf and high winds. Mostly cloudy.
Sound Fishing: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported anglers fishing on the rocks and catching Puppies and Trout. On Wednesday, the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported good Trout fishing and Drum. The causeway had lots of damage. A total of 26 of the 27 power poles on the causeway were down.
Pier Fishing:
Avalon: Puppy Drum and some keepers. The pier had a good day yesterday with Trout Sea Mullet, Puppies and Croakers.
Nags Head: Puppy Drum and Trout.
Jennette’s: A 42-inch Drum, Puppy Drum some in the slot, Croaker, Black Drum and Sea Mullet. Hooked 5 big Drum yesterday and caught 4.
Outer Banks: Puppy Drum.
Hatteras Surf
Wednesday was a good day of fishing. The Point had a good bite on Puppy Drum. Behind the Motels had a lot of Puppy Drum and some Speckle trout on bait. The south beach had some Puppy Drum and Sea Mullet.
Offshore, no reports.