By Dr. Ken Neill, III
The wind has been the most persistent fishing story. That and the return of winter-like temperatures have severely limited fishing activity. When boats can get out, Bluefin tuna have generated most of the excitement.
Boats fishing out of Oregon Inlet are catching Bluefin tuna in the 250 to over 500 pound range. Yellowfin tuna are also available. Blackfin tuna can be jigged up out of Hatteras. Weather has even hampered fishing from the shore, but there have been some red drum pulled from the surf at Hatteras.
Out of Virginia, it is tautog when the wind allows. Any of the coastal wrecks are producing tog and there have been active tautog at the CBBT. Tilefish are plentiful on the offshore bottom on the rare calm day. During the last warm spell, there were some early flounder catches in the shallows. Boston mackerel have been available in the coastal waters and some were caught up in the bay this past week in gill nets. Rockfish are in the rivers for catch and release action. Sea bass are plentiful on all of the ocean wrecks, mixed in with the blueline tilefish for catch and release action that nobody wants, but we are stuck with if you want to catch tautog and tilefish.
Hatteras Surf
Cold weather kept many anglers indoors at Hatteras, but even with heavy winds Wednesday night, one fisherman landed a 27-inch puppy drum on The Point. That puppy drum made his trip, since he had to leave the next morning. The weather was improving by Thursday, promising better fishing for the weekend.
One boat sailed to the Gulf Stream on Sunday and reported tons of albacore. Blackfin tuna and a few king mackerel.
