By Dr. Julie Ball
The extreme winds and historic flooding that hit our area can change fishing patterns considerably, so watch for fall patterns to return slowly. Until the waters settle out, much of the best action will continue to come from the shallows and protected inlets.
Puppy drum tend to thrive in turbulent water. Masses of pups are thrilling anglers in most backwater locations, inlets, lower Bay surf lines and piers. Big red drum action is also taking off all over the lower Bay and along the ocean shorelines. Anglers continue to revel in red drum releases near the islands of the CBBT on a variety of cut and live bait, where some of these brutes are pushing 48-inches. Surf and pier anglers are also still pulling big bulls from the Little Island fishing pier and from the surf lines off Sandbridge and along the Eastern Shore barrier islands.
Although the speckled trout action is lagging, the bite will rekindle along the shorelines and lower Bay inlets over the next several days. Folks trying their luck are finding some takers ranging from 16- to 21-inches, but some bigger specks are also lurking in the same areas. School-sized striped bass ranging to around 18- to 22-inches are also providing some action in these same protected areas around bulkheads and lighted docks at night. Remember, in Bay waters you can keep two fish per person measuring between 20- and 28-inches, with one of the two fish allowed to measure above 28-inches.
Spot were active during the storm, with anglers reporting good action all along the Southern Bay shorelines, inlets, and piers. Folks are still finding some decent spot activity this week, with bloodworms the bait of choice. Croakers are still around, especially at the HRBT, off Ocean View, and within Lynnhaven Inlet.
The flounder action is hit or miss, and the muddy mess left from Matthew will put a strain on that bite. In the Bay, the best catches are still coming from channel edges and shoals. Those venturing to deeper water wrecks will find good luck with the flatfish if they can get out. Nice triggerfish and decent sized tautog and sea bass are also available on these wrecks. Big chopper bluefish will also show soon around many of these same structures, with the Triangle Wreck area a favorite.
Although not abundant in dirty water, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel can make a showing near the Chesapeake Light Tower and closer inshore once the water clears along the oceanfront. Schools of false albacore can offer trollers and casters a sporting fight in the same areas.
Before the storm, tautogs to 4-pounds were hanging around the islands, pilings, and tubes of the CBBT. Sheepshead are still these same areas, with some big fish caught recently. Amberjack are available at a few offshore wrecks and at the South Tower through the end of the month. Deep droppers can look forward to decent tilefish, black-bellied rosefish, and grouper once they can reach them.
Not many boats have ventured offshore due to the storm winds, but once the seas calm, the action could be good. Look for some yellowfin tuna and a mixture of longfin tuna, big eye tuna, and wahoo to be the main event. Some Mahi, stray marlin and swordfish are also a possibility.
Oregon Inlet
Capt. Reese Stecher says the while the storm blew out the good striper action at Oregon Inlet, it must have blown in the puppy drum.
Says Capt. Stecher, “The rain must have flushed all the puppy drum that were up the sound down to the inlet. We wore them out on both trips last week. Before the storm it was almost impossible to find a slot fish, as all were way too small. Since the storm, it seems like a larger class of fish have moved to the inlet. Most fish have been just short (17 inch range), but we have been weeding out some keepers. Hopefully when the water clears up, the Stripers will be back.”
To book a trip, for stripers or drum at Oregon Inlet, go to www.obxdriftwood.com or call (252) 449-0232
Nags Head
TWs at Nags Head reports that the surf fishing slowed Monday. There were a few Sea Mullet and small Drum.
Sound Fishing: The Little Bridge anglers on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported good action for Stripers, Trout and Puppy Drum.
Pier Fishing: Avalon had Drum.
Nags Head: Trout, Spot and small Drum.
Jennette’s: A few Sea Mullet.
Outer Banks: Small Drum and Spot.
Inshore and near shore boats are catching limits of Puppy Drum and keeper Stripers. Miss Oregon Inlet had a morning trip and decked Bass, Trout, Spot, Sea Mullet and Croaker.
Offshore Boats: Several offshore boats sailed Monday and filled their boxes with limits of both Yellowfin and Dolphin. Also nice Wahoo were caught. There were 2 Sailfish releases.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum said it felt like summer again on Monday. The Point had Puppy Drum and some Bluefish. Behind the Motel, anglers beached Puppy Drum, Sea Mullet and a few Speckle Trout. Avon had Puppy Drum and Sea Mullet. The island for the most part is getting back to normal. Hatteras Village still has a lot of recovery to get done.
Hatteras Offshore
Boats are sailing again out of Hatteras with good results.
Boats fishing Sunday, reported beautiful weather and good catches of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna, a fair catch of Dolphin and some Wahoo. Some sailfish were released and a Blue Marlin was hooked. Inshore a few Red Drum were seen and some Speckled Trout.
On Monday, one boat caught Dolphin, Blackfin, a few Wahoo and some Yellowfin Tuna. Inshore boats were catching Puppy Drum and Speckled Trout. Hatteras is slowly getting back on her feet and the residents are as well. Businesses are starting to reopen to the public, Visitors are back on the island and the roads are open!
