N.C. fishing report

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 19, 2008 12:49 PM

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Northern District

Dare, Hyde, Currituck

& Beaufort Counties

Ocean: Dolphin continue to make up the bulk of the offshore anglers' catch with limits being caught more than half of the time.

Yellow and blackfin tuna catches are much improved. Wahoo, blueline tilefish, barracuda, greater amberjack, king mackerel, vermilion snapper, triggerfish and black seabass were all caught with moderate to good regularity. Billfish catches slowed just a bit, but there are still a few sailfish, blue and white marlin being caught.

Mid-range anglers saw very slow fishing, but caught a few striped bass, sheepshead, red drum and cobia.

Inshore fishing was good, and those that were persistent caught their limits of bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Anglers reported that they sometimes fished for four or five hours without a bite then limited out on both Spanish mackerel and bluefish within 20 minutes.

There were also some nice catches of kingfish, croaker and red drum.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: It was not a spectacular week for anglers in these waters with the exception of some very large spotted seatrout caught. Most were hooked in the pre-dawn hours to mid-morning while fishing Oregon Inlet's Green Island Slough and underneath the Washington Baum Bridge across from Pirates Cove Marina.

Sheepshead and triggerfish were caught with moderate regularity around the bridge structure at Oregon Inlet.

Piers/Shore: Anglers had similar success rates to that of the ocean inshore boaters regarding bluefish and Spanish mackerel catches. Kingfish, spadefish, pigfish, pinfish, croakers, blue runners; and assorted sharks, skates and rays were caught with moderate regularity.

General Overview: Fishing success rates have improved modestly in all modes with water temps in the surf remaining in the upper 70s throughout the area. Weather conditions are predicted to be favorable for the coming week.

Central District

Pamlico, Craven, Carteret

& Onslow Counties

Ocean: The aftermath of Hanna and the heat slowed fishing.

Billfish anglers did great with the sailfish and marlin bite. Charter boats caught dolphin and wahoo, but fewer boats are out there fishing. Spanish are still off the beaches and in the inlets.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Bluefish continued to jump along the shores of Radio Island, and in Beaufort and Bogue inlets. There were some good catches of sheepshead hooked near the pilings of bridges and piers. Schools of bait were running close to shore.

Piers/Shore: The pier anglers had great fun with bluefish catches, small croaker and pigfish. Sharks and rays were thick. Some pompano and bluefish were caught in the surf as well.

Southern District

Pender, New Hanover

& Brunswick Counties

Ocean: Offshore, the wahoo fishing has been good over the last couple of weeks. Along with the wahoo there are some dolphin and sailfish being reported as well. Bottom fishing in the same general area is producing red and scamp groupers along with an assortment of other bottom fish.

There were no reports on the king mackerel fishing, but fall is near and fishing should really improve over the coming weeks.

Inshore reefs are producing some flounder and over-the-slot red drum. Spanish mackerel fishing was generally good along area beaches last week.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing improved last week.

There were some very good catches of speckled trout coming out of the southern part of the Cape Fear River. Live shrimp fished under a cork is the most effective way to catch them, but they are being caught on artificial lures as well.

Flounder and drum are also being caught in the same general locations.

Piers/Shore: Fishing was fair last week on area piers. Red and black drum were caught in increasing numbers. Along with the drum there were some pompano, sea mullets, Spanish mackerel and lots of bluefish.

The mullet are starting to move down the beaches so fall fishing must be just around the corner.