It’s September. It’s spot time – time to catch a cooler full of these tasty saltwater panfish. In September, spot put on the feed bag and can grow quickly and impressively. By mid- and late- September fishermen begin to catch the “yellowbellies” – spot up to a pound and more. Spot are bottom feeders and like hard bottoms where they find shrimp and crustaceans. The best bait is always a bloodworm, though they can be hard to find and expensive. An alternative is a Blood Worm-scented Fishbiteor a piece of cut shrimp. Spot themselves are ideal baits for big flounder and the bigger the spot, the bigger the flounder it will attract.
Bay fishermen found favorably conditions this week with clear water and comfortable temperatures. The bait was active and so were the fish.
Red Drum – A few fish are being found around grass flats, especially where bait is present.
Flounder – Continuing to produce throughout the bay.
Puppy drum and trout are making a push into the backwaters.
Sea mullet, spot, croaker, mud minnows, and mullet are all on the move, giving anglers plenty of options.
Cobia – Are keeping anglers busy and keying heavily on the large bunker schools.
Spanish Mackerel – Are absolutely smoking right now. Fish are being caught from the beach, off the piers, and throughout the bay.
Sheepshead – The bite has slowed some, but fish are still around structure and available for anglers targeting them.
Offshore fishing is producing Black Sea Bass, Flounder, Some smaller Mahi and Cobia.
Inshore & Piers: Spanish mackerel and bluefish are active, while anglers around the local structures and piers are seeing solid action on spot, croakers, and flounder.
OBX
A whopping 2lb. 3oz. pompano was caught in the Hatteras surf this week, as the “pomps” continue to tug on lines. An ocean trip for the Miss Oregon Inlet anglers produced Spanish mackerel, Triggerfish, Sea Robins, lots of nice Black Sea Bass and even an octopus.
On the piers, it was Spanish, bluefish, spot and a few undersized cobia. The offshore fleet is finding Mahi, Sails, and blackfin tuna. in the mix. The same for nearshore boaters. For the offshore boats, I just have not seen a recent report, but my guess would be mahi, sailfish, and blackfin tuna.
Freshwater
Despite recent rainfalls, the rivers remain low with difficult navigating. Smallies are biting when anglers can reach them. Buggs Island is at 291-feet, some 10-feet below normal pool, and many boat ramps are closed. Grass on the Potomac is producing great bass fishing – along with the ever-present snakeheads. The striper bite is excellent in the early morning hours at Anna. Cooler evenings are bringing fish closer to the shore in ponds and lakes.
