Outer Banks Fishing Report

Joe Malat

June 18, 2009

Overview

Generally, it was a lucrative week for Outer Banks anglers. Blustery conditions early in the week slowed some of the activity and affected boaters more than surf and pier fishermen, but all had some pretty good fishing to report. As to be expected at this time of the year, surf fishing was sporadic and spotty in some areas (sort of like the amount of beach that is accessible to fishermen!)

Surf

Small bluefish, pompano, spots and a few croakers were reported along the northern beaches. The beaches between Rodanthe and Hatteras Inlet produced a variety. On Sunday the sea mullet was good at Ramp 38, with a few pompano in the mix. Ramp 43 produced small bluefish, sea mullet, pigfish, pompano, flounder, Spanish mackerel, small spot and a 43-pound cobia. A 44-pound cobia was caught on a bucktail by a kayaker who launched his rig from the beach. The Spanish macks liked Glass Minnow lures in the color combination of yellow, pink and green. Ramp 49 had black drum and small croakers.

Ocracoke surfcasters had to deal with some rain and wind, but they caught a few puppy and black drum, flounder (several were keepers), bluefish, yearling sized drum and croakers. A few big red drum were also beached.

Recent news from the National Park Service: “Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches will be managed again this summer under the terms of the U.S. District Court approved consent decree. Park visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and turtle nesting closures may occur until early November. Shorebird pre-nesting closures have already been established at the inlets, Cape Point, and South Beach. As soon as subsequent breeding activity is observed, the consent decree requires that automatic, non-discretionary buffers be implemented."

The Beach Access Report is issued every Thursday throughout the breeding season, and updated news will be reported weekly in bold, BLUE print. **All distances are approximate.** The weekly Beach Access Report is complemented by a Google Earth map, which is updated up to 5 times per week as access conditions change. The latest Google Earth beach access map can be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm

Note: Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice. On-site signage, rather than the Beach Access Report or Google Earth map, is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public. Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with “symbolic fencing” consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string, and flagging tape. Knowledge of tidal changes and caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park.

Soundside

Scattered speckled trout inside Oregon Inlet, keeper flounder in Davis Slough. Last week a dolphin (as in mahi!) was caught by anglers fishing west of the Oregon Inlet Bridge in David Slough. I am not making this up, as Dave Barry would say. Boaters at Ocracoke reported excellent Spanish mackerel fishing, pretty good flounder action in some of the deeper channels, plus gray trout, bluefish and puppy drum. On the soundside of Hatteras Island I heard of flounder and speckled trout. Little Bridge fishing was slow, with some speckled trout in the early mornings.

Piers

Piers north of Oregon Inlet had a mix of Spanish mackerel, small bluefish, speckled trout, sea mullet, lots of triggerfish and pompano. Spanish mackerel action was hot on the Avalon Pier, on the incoming tide. Blustery east winds early in the week produced a fair number of puppy drum on bait.

Offshore

The Oregon Inlet offshore boats continued to hit the dolphin, with good numbers of big yellowfin tuna and some bigeye tuna to 100+ pounds.