Doormat flounder have arrived in the lower Bay. Large flounder are also being caught around seaside wrecks. Remember when fishing for flounder, the general rule is large baits attract large fish.
The coastal wrecks are holding sea bass and triggerfish.
Spadefish and sheepshead are holding on structure. The spadefish can be spotted around buoys, over wrecks or near the tower. They like fresh clam strips floated in front of them. Sheepshead hang around bridge pilings and jetties, they prefer small crabs.
Spanish mackerel are along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. Most are caught by anglers using small spoons behind a planer or inline sinker.
Cobia and big red drum are available along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. A favorite place to look for drum is on the Eastern Shore shoals. Anglers are finding cobia throughout the lower bay. Check around all the buoys, cobia love to hang close by.
Offshore, tuna continue to be caught at the canyons but the hot bite is for Mahi-Mahi. Lots of Mahi have now made their way up from the south. Last week a potential new world record Mahi-Mahi weighing 72 pounds, 14 ounces was caught off Hatteras by angler Lucas Duke, age 14. If approved, his catch will qualify for the Male Junior world record and potentially a line class world record depending on the tackle used.
Deep dropping remains good for blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and golden tilefish. There should be good amberjack action around the south tower.
Outer Banks
Surf fishing continues to be slow. There were a few scattered Sea Mullet and small Bluefish reported along the beaches.
In the sound, the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Trout and Spot.
Pier Fishing:
Avalon: Sea Mullet.
Nags Head: Blues.
Jennette’s: Croaker, Sea Mullet, Spot, Flounder.
Outer Banks: 2 Sharks and lost 2 Drum.
Inshore anglers are catching Croaker, Flounder, Trout, Pinfish and pigfish. Nearshore boats are finding Ribbonfish, Bluefish, Spanish and Mullet.
Offshore Boats Reported good catches of Mahi, some Albacore and 2 Blue Marlin releases.
Out of Hatteras Harbor, the Billfish bite was good on Wednesday with six Sailfish releases and one White Marlin release. Most boats returned with limits of bailer Dolphin along with some Triggerfish and Black Sea Bass. Inshore anglers returned with lots of Bluefish. Citation size Red Drum kept anglers busy and some “keeper” Drum were caught as well.
