Striper fishing in the tidal rivers and lower Bay is heating up with more and bigger fish being caught. Larger fish are being caught near bridges and docks under the lights.The specks are also biting with more regularity as water temps drop. Some huge spot have been caught at the mouth of the bay, including public fishing piers. But that bite won’t last long as the bottom fish such as spot, croakers and whiting check out for the winter. The flounder fishing is excellent off the coast around wrecks and structure. The cobia have largely moved out of the bay, heading for Florida. Some bull drum are still around, but they, too, will soon head south.
OBX
Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head reports Northern Puffers, Spot, baby-sized Blues and throwback Speckled Trout. The ocean temp is 65. Karl Uotinen and Tom Spitnale of Roanoke, VA caught over a dozen red drum Wednesday morning with Captain Ernie Doshier on the Drumrunner, on the sound side behind Ocracoke Island.
It’s been tough conditions for offshore excursions with rough seas and winds the norm. Early the week, Country Girl Charters found the blue water and caught blackfin tuna and king macs. Some bottom fishing trips have produced sea bass and trigger fish.
