Dr. Ken Neill, III
The bluefin tuna that were hanging on the Fingers seem to have moved on. They have been replaced by yellowfin tuna in the 40-pound class. Dolphin and some wahoo are also being caught at the Fingers. More billfish are showing up out around 100 fathoms. There are amberjack at the southern towers. Spadefish are at the Chesapeake Light Tower and over most of the coastal wrecks. Triggerfish and flounder are also on the wrecks.
Spanish mackerel are being caught along the oceanfront where schools of big red drum and cobia are also being encountered. Some nice flounder are being caught at the CBBT. Big sheepshead are on the structure as are spadefish and good numbers of triggerfish. Spanish mackerel are all over the lower bay as are cobia. Some of the better cobia catches are being made up in the bay near Windmill and even further, but they are everywhere. Flounder are also everywhere and flounder fishing is the best it has been in several years. The best catches are from structure like the CBBT and the coastal wrecks, but drifting the historic bay flounder spots is producing fish. Some nice flounder are being caught in the York River.
Puppy drum and some speckled trout continue to be caught on the flats and in the York, James and Back Rivers. Wherever there is some eelgrass. Big red drum can be found anywhere in the lower bay but the most likely near the mouth of the bay and on the Eastern Shore side of the bay.
Nags Head
Surf Fishing:
The water is cold, believe it or not, and the fishing will remain slow until conditions changes. The water temp was 59 degrees on Wednesday.
Some Sea Mullet were reported.
Sound Fishing:
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported small Trout, Flounder, Croaker and Black Drum. Fishing was better from the Wild Life Pier on the causeway. They caught some keeper Trout.
Pier Fishing:
Avalon: Croaker and Sea Mullet
Nags Head: Spot and Sea Mullet.
Jennette’s: Slow.
Outer Banks: Some nice Sea Mullet and a Pompano in this cold water, go figure.
Inshore /nearshore Report:
Nearshore anglers caught a variety of fish including Tilefish, Sea Bass, Amberjack, Grouper, Dolphin, Albacore, Spanish and Kings. Fishing inshore is good with catches of Trout, Flounder, Spanish and Red Drum releases. The Headboat reported Flounder, Sea Mullet, Croaker, Spot, Croaker, Gray Trout, Pigs and Pins.
Offshore:
The fishing slowed some for offshore anglers, but they still brought in a good amount of Yellowfin, some Blackfin, Dolphin, Wahoo and Big-eye. Spot fishing improved with more Billfish releases.
Hatteras
A beautiful day Wednesday produced good action for surf fishermen. Ramp 55 had Sea Mullet and Pompano. The Point had a few Blue Fish. Ramp 43 had Sea Mullet and a couple of Pompano. One angler fished in the sound and reported a good day for Trout.
Inshore anglers had a great time catching Speckled Trout and big Bluefish. The Red Drum bite was good all day! Offshore, six Sailfish were released by the Hatteras fleet. Anglers returned with limits of Dolphin. The Wahoo bite was good again today and a handful of Blackfin Tuna added some variety. Bottom fish included Triggerfish and Grouper.
