The Nolin Family from Vermont at Oregon Inlet
From the upper reaches of the bay down through the Carolinas, anglers are doing better and better with stripers following the recent cold snap.
From Nags Head, Capt. Reese Stecher reports: “The Stripers gave us the slip for a few days. So, we went after the Drum and they were biting. The cold weathered helped us out and we figured out where the Stripers were last night.”
Reese said they are catching good size stripers in the sound, some in the 24-25-inch range.
Virginia Saltwater
Rockfish are available in Virginia rivers, the Elizabeth, James, Potomac and Rappahannock. Larger fish should start migrating into the bay soon. Those putting in the time are finding a few larger class stripers around CBBT structure. Bluefish are also available in the lower bay.
Bay tautog action keeps getting better, especially around the islands of the CBBT and the inshore wrecks. Togs are hitting fresh crab or frozen fiddlers. Ocean structures are also holding sea bass, flounder, triggerfish and a few drum. Water Temperature at the CBBT is 58.8 F and dropping.
The speckled trout bite has been very good inside Lynnhaven Inlet for a couple of weeks.
Virginia offshore action has produced wahoo, swordfish, sea bass and tilefish lately.
Nags Head
Surf fishing on the Outer Banks has picked up. Anglers are landing black drum, bluefish, speckled trout, sea mullet, spot, and red drum. Cut baits, fresh shrimp, bloodworms and sand fleas have worked best. Water Temperature at the Duck Pier is 61.3 F.
In the OBX sound, speckled trout have been the main target. A few anglers have also landed sea mullet, spot, and stripers. The flounder bite has remained steady inshore. Anglers are having success using live minnows on Carolina rigs.
Offshore boats haven’t sailed since Nov. 12.
Hatteras
Fishing was very good Thursday. Ramp 49 had Puppy Drum, Speckle Trout, Black Drum, Blow Toads and Sea Mullet. Ramp 55 had a nice bite on Puppy Drum. On Wednesday evening, about 5 citation Drum were caught and released. Plenty of Puppy Drum were landed on the Point, plus a large flounder. Some nice Sea Mullet were also reported.
Out of Hatteras Harbor, there has been excellent king mackerel fishing when boats can get out.
