Dr. Ken Neill, III
A fairly epic December tuna bite has developed in the Norfolk Canyon area over the past week. Boats making it out are coming in with limits of yellowfin tuna and even some dolphin. Some bigeye tuna are also being caught. We don’t know how long this early Christmas present will last so you might want to get out there now if you can.
Offshore bottom fishing continues to be good for blueline and golden tilefish and a decent number of snowy grouper are also being encountered. So far, the spiny dogfish have not moved in to make this fishery more of a challenge, but at times, an abundance of bluefish have been almost as bad.
The ocean wrecks are holding sea bass, triggerfish, flounder and plenty of bluefish. Structures closer to shore are starting to produce more tautog. Tautog action inside of the bay, where you do not have to weed through sea bass, is very good. The CBBT has been the prime location but all of the wrecks and reefs in the lower bay are producing tog.
Rockfish action continues to be very good up the coast to New Jersey and up in the Maryland portion of the bay, which tells us that we still have a lot of rockfish coming our way. With the warm December we are having, it will probably be about the end of the bay season when fishing really gets good. It is not too bad now with a lot of school-sized fish in the mid-bay. Boats are catching their limits from around Windmill Point on up to the Cut Channel. Big rockfish are also being caught from the Cut Channel on down the bay, mostly by anglers fishing with live eels. Most of these fish have been caught from Buoy 38 and north but more big fish are starting to be caught from the Kiptopeke area and some trophy rockfish have been caught eeling the CBBT at night this week.
What is missing are the reports of gator speckled trout. The “Hot Ditch” fishery should be in full swing right now. The closing of the power plant and back-to-back winter fish kills has ended that world class fishery. There are some speckled trout being caught inside of Rudee Inlet with a few pushing the 5-pound mark.
Nags Head
TW’s Bait and Tackle Report on 12/17/15. Trout and good Bluefish catches on the Buxton beaches, and Frisco as well. Northern beaches are slow.
Jennette’s Pier reported Sea Mullet and Gray Trout this morning.
The winds are S at 12 and the water temp is 59 degrees.
There were a few small Trout and Sea Mullet caught just south of Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head yesterday. Avon had a good catch on slot Puppy Drum. The other beaches on the south side of the bridge beached nice Specks and plenty Bluefish. The boats are having another dry spell. The wind has switched. Maybe today.
Oregon Inlet
Offshore from Oregon Inlet: It was a gorgeous weekend!! On Saturday, Wild Card brought in a few dophin, a tuna & a nice wahoo.
On 12-16, another gorgeous day. Offshore anglers had a great day fishing. They reeled in nice Wahoo and several Black Fin Tuna. Trophy Hunter brought in a limit of Yellow Fin Tuna.
An Inshore Charter was out fishing as well. Rock Solid fished in the Sound catching some beautiful Stripers. The Stripers were easy pickins’ today.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum Wednesday Fishing Report: A lot of Bluefish today. Ramp 43 and Jetties had plenty of Bluefish, small trout, and undersize Puppy Drum. North of Buxton, it was Speckle trout and Puppy Drum. Ramps 38 and 49 had Sea Mullet. So far not cold a little this weekend but back in the 70’s for Christmas week.
On Tuesday, the weather here was wonderful. Catching some nice Speckle Trout, Puppy Drum, and plenty of Bluefish. Avon had a good catch on slot Puppy Drum. The south beaches had plenty of Bluefish.
Hatteras Offshore
Hatteras Harbor reports on Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Boats were commercial fishing today. They reported excellent King Mackerel fishing and a few Blackfin Tuna. Weather was beautiful and balmy without even a hint of winter.
On Tuesday, it was quiet on the home front, some great warm weather though. It certainly isn’t Christmas weather but we aren’t complaining.
On Sunday, it was another beautiful day to be on the water! Offshore charter boats came back with good catches of King Mackerel while the Albacore bite was scattered. Inshore charters enjoyed a peaceful day on the Sound. They had good catches of Speckled Trout with about 15 keepers.