North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Report - 8/3/2008
August 3, 2008
Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck, & Beaufort Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Offshore activity was slow with only a modest increase in catch rates. Dolphin made up the bulk of the catches with a few wahoo and king mackerel mixed in. Tuna were scarce, with only a few being caught this week. Billfish anglers had moderate-good success on all species. Midrange success improved somewhat with catches of triggerfish, black seabass, blueline tilefish, and both vermilion and red snappers being caught in the 8-10 mile offshore range. King mackerel and striped bass were caught with increased regularity in the 5-6 mile range. Inshore anglers caught some very nice flounder in the 0-2 mile range with most specimens being in the very near shore surf zone. Sand fleas (mole crabs) were the bait that worked best. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were caught in this same region in short term/high volume blitzes.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Flounder catches were good throughout the area. Shallow areas near the various islands at Oregon Inlet produced the bulk of them with a few citation-size ones being recorded this week. Spotted seatrout and weakfish catches were very much improved. Most of them were caught in the Roanoke Sound underneath the Washington Baum Bridge opposite Pirates Cove Marina. Croakers, kingfish, spot, pinfish, and others were also caught.Â
Piers/Shore: Flounder in the near shore surf zone continued to be the primary target of these anglers with similar results to the inshore boaters. Spanish mackerel and bluefish catches were good as well. Unlike boaters, pier and shore anglers did not have to wait for calm seas to access them and catches were very good on a daily basis regardless of surf conditions. Cobia catches from piers lessened somewhat, but a few nice specimens were caught at night. Bell Island Pier, just west of Swanquarter, produced some very nice spotted seatrout and a few flounder.Â
General Overview: Fishing success rates improved across the board with the exception of offshore ocean fishing. Water temp in the surf (Kill Devil HIlls) the day of this report was 76 degrees with favorable conditions expected for the coming week.
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Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean:Â Anglers caught wahoo at the # 14 Buoy. Billfish and a few dolphin were caught offshore. The charterboat fishing was rather slow. Gags were caught at the 240 Rock.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: There were plenty of flounder at Drum Inlet and there were also some nice black drum. At the Cee Bee Marina nice flounder, spotted seatrout and black drum were measured. Sheepshead are still around all bridges in the county. Two anglers in Carteret county caught 12, four of which weighed five pounds or so. Spanish mackerel were caught around Beaufort and Bogue inlets and off the beaches. Bluefish are swimming with the Spanish. Redfish are still in the Newport River.
Piers/Shore:Â Anglers reeled in a mixed bag of small bluefish, kingfish and Spanish.
Southern District Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Very few reports from boats fishing offshore. Bottom fishing in the 35 to 55-mile range should be producing some grouper, mostly reds along with some scamps and gags. Closer to shore, there are some kings biting, nothing great but there are some fish around. Places that have been producing some fish are the shark hole and jungle down south, and the 23-mile rock area. There were a good many sailfish caught last week, with some fish coming as close as a couple miles off the beach. There are good numbers of tarpon being reported on the south end of Topsail Island. Near/shore reefs have been producing some decent flounder catches of late. John’s Creek has been a good spot to try.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Inshore, fishing has remained fairly good. Flounder are being caught in the river in decent numbers along some nice trout. Most trout are coming out of the southern part of the river. Sheepshead and black drum are biting well at places such as the ADM dock and Snow’s cut.
Piers/Shore: Fishing is somewhat slow. There are some keeper flounder being caught along with some sea mullets, pompano, and bluefish. Topsail Island piers saw a good many tarpon last week.
Related posts
North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Report - 7/20/2008
July 20, 2008
Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck, & Beaufort Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Catches slowed this week, with offshore anglers catching small amounts of dolphin, wahoo and various tunas. Billfish catches have been the exception, with sailfish, blue and white marlin being caught most of the time by anglers targeting them. Midrange catches have been light, with only a few triggerfish, black seabass, and an occasional striped bass being caught  King mackerel and a few cobia continue to be caught about 8 to10-miles offshore. Inshore anglers had the best success rates in the ocean with some very nice flounder being caught in the 0 to 2-mile range. Most were legal keeping size and a few were in the 4 lb range. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were also caught in this same range, but were tough to access in the near shore surf zone due to rough seas. Atlantic sharpnose sharks, assorted skates and rays, and kingfish were also caught. Â
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Flounder catch rates were the best news for anglers in these waters, with success rates similar to those fishing the inshore ocean range. Weakfish and spotted seatrout were caught by early morning anglers at Oregon Inlet’s Green Island Slough. Plenty of large croaker were caught throughout the area with kingfish and spot mixed in.Â
Piers/Shore: Flounder catches improved for these anglers also with results similar to those listed above. Spanish mackerel were caught in the very near-shore surf zone by anglers working the surface with assorted spoons and lures. Bluefish, kingfish, croaker, spot, weakfish, skates, sharks, and a host of others were also caught. Red drum catches from Avon southward have improved on a steady basis. Cobia catches from piers were moderate to good most of the time, especially at night.
General Overview: Tropical storm Cristobal will keep waters stirred up in the early part of the week but will depart quickly and should have a positive effect on fishing.Â
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Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: King mackerel were caught around the 14 buoy, the sea buoys and Atlas tanker. Nice wahoo were caught at the Atlas tanker. Dolphin were the main catch on the charterboats. Anglers caught Spanish mackerel around both Beaufort and Bogue Inlets and down the beaches in 10 feet of water. They also caught them around the Cape.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Reports from New River showed very good catches of spotted seatrout. Sheepshead were around all the bridge pilings in the county, and anglers did great catching them. Several 6-pound flounder were hooked in the turning basin at the port. Anglers were using mullet minnows.
Piers/Shore:Â The pier beside the Morehead-Beaufort high-rise bridge surprised and pleased anglers who landed some very nice sea mullet. Fishermen were catching more than four per person and they were all 12 inches or longer. Those fishing from shore were also hooking kingfish.
Southern District Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
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Ocean: Typical summer time fishing. Bottom fishing in the 30 to 55-mile range has been producing lots of red groupers along with some gags, and scamps. King mackerel fishing has been a little slow over the last couple of weeks. The shark hole has been the most consistent place to fish of late. Sailfish have moved close to the beach and boats targeting king mackerel typically catch them this time of year. Flounder fishing on the near/shore reefs has been good. The reefs off Brunswick County are a good place to fish this time of year, with anglers often landing large red drum and spadefish.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing has been good. The trout are biting well around the Southport/Oak Island area. There are also a decent numbers of flounder being landed, with some up to 8 pounds. Sheepshead and black drum are biting well. The rock jetties at Little River and Masonboro Inlet are good places to try as well as the ADM dock and Snow’s Cut. I haven’t heard anybody fishing for them, but tarpon fishing on the shoals is another option this time of year.
Piers/Shore: Fishing was a little slow. The tropical system that passed through the area slowed fishing. Area piers are seeing pompano, sea mullet, bluefish, and some flounder. Shore anglers using sand fleas are catching some nice pompano.
Related posts
North Carolina Regional Saltwater Fishing Reports - 6/8/2008
June 8, 2008
Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck, & Beaufort Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Offshore catches were more diverse, with moderate-good catches of dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel. amberjack, little tunny, Atlantic bonito, and both yellow and blackfin tuna. Billfish catches increased. Midrange anglers continued to catch striped bass and red drum about two miles offshore from Kitty Hawk southward to the Pea Island area, but with less regularity than previously. Anglers fishing the artificial reef AR-160 (Zane Gray) caught plenty of gray triggerfish and black seabass. Inshore catches consisted of bluefish and spotted seatrout with a host of others mixed in. Bluefish were caught throughout the day with short-term/high-volume catches being had by all anglers who are there at the right time. Spotted seatrout catches were very good in the early morning hours in the near shore surf zone when it was accessible.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and red drum were the most abundant species caught in these waters. Catches of both, that were previously concentrated near the Melvin Daniels Bridge/Roanoke Sound area, were made throughout the area with increased regularity this week. Flounder catches improved modestly with well over 50% of them being legal keeping size. Sheepshead and tautog were caught near the bridge pilings at Oregon Inlet on a regular basis.
Piers/Shore: Catches of bluefish and spotted seatrout shared with the inshore boat anglers were most common, with a host of others thrown in. Cobia catches off of the local piers continued to be very good, especially at night.  Â
General Overview: Record high temps and smoke from ongoing wildfires caused anglers to limit their fishing efforts somewhat, but those who toughed it out had moderate-good success rates in all modes of fishing most of the time. Water temps in the surf throughout the Outer Banks continue to rise, with upper 60s-lower 70s at all locations.  Â
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Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Dolphin and kings can be found at the 90 Foot Drop and Northwest Places. Good sized wahoo are around Buoy 14. Kings can also be found at AR 355 and the Xmas Rock along with amberjacks. There seems no shortage of dolphin - like the bluefish - they are found everywhere. Headboats are continuing to do well with snapper, grouper, sea bass, grunts and triggers. Spanish mackerel are around both Beaufort and Bogue Inlets and down the beaches in all directions. They are in 10 to 20 feet of water. There are reports that chopper blues are still here. Sailfish have been hooked and released this past week.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: All the Spanish and blues you could wish for are around the Inlets. Anglers are looking for cobia. Nice sea mullet are scattered in the Turning Basin and around the Cape Lookout Shoals. One or two red drum have been hooked from the Swansboro area and the Newport River. Anglers are also catching a good-sized trout here and there. One angler had three nice flounder caught somewhere east of Beaufort, along with about 15 undersized released flounder.
Piers/Shore: Spot, pigfish, sea mullet, croaker, have been hooked along with sharks. There are also many sharks in the Intracoastal Waterway off Swansboro. Bluefish and Spanish continue to be caught from the end of the piers. Â
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Southern District Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Â
Ocean: Offshore, it was another banner week for the dolphin. Along with the dolphin there were some decent wahoo catches. Large red grouper continue to bite well in the 45 to 55-mile range. Closer to shore, school size king mackerel are biting well on most ledges in the 10 to 30-mile range. These same areas are producing amberjacks, gags, and the occasional cobia. The Spanish mackerel have been thick along area beaches of late.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Trout fishing seem to slow some last week. Best catches are coming in the morning hours. Fish are being caught on live shrimp, top water, and D.O.A shrimp. Flounder fishing has been better so far this year than last, with fish over five pounds being seen at area ramps. Carolina Beach Inlet and the Cape Fear River have been producing the bigger flounder of late.
Piers/Shore: Fishing has been good. Topsail Island piers reported several tarpon catches last week. They also caught some kings and a few cobia as well. Spanish fishing has been outstanding at times. Spanish were reported on the New Hanover piers as well, and Brunswick County piers are doing good on the trout. Live shrimp has been the ticket.
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