Northern District

For the week April 19-25

Ocean: Offshore anglers caught a few bluefin tuna, but in considerably smaller quantities compared with the high volume of catches from the previous few weeks. Yellow and blackfin tuna, little tunny, Atlantic bonito, dolphinfish, and wahoo were caught in small quantities. Anglers had very good results bottom fishing, with fine catches of greater amberjack, tilefish, blueline tilefish, snowy and yellowedge grouper, black seabass, barrellfish, and blackbelly rosefish. Midrange anglers had a modest increase in success, catching a few striped bass about eight miles offshore in an area from Nags Head, north to Corolla. Artificial reefs continued to provide moderate numbers of sheepshead, tautog, black drum, and triggerfish. Near-shore fishing was limited due to rough seas, but calm days yielded moderate catches of small bluefish, along with a few red drum and kingfish.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Anglers continued to target spotted seatrout, and catch rates improved compared with previous weeks – although most were undersized. Choice sheepshead and black drum were caught in small quantities near the bridge structure at Oregon Inlet. An assortment of species – including croaker, spot, weakfish, pinfish, pigfish and others – were reportedly caught in small quantities.

Piers/Shore: Onshore fishing improved notably from last week, with consistent catches of bluefish, kingfish, and spotted seatrout reported. Anglers fishing for puffers (blowfish) went home with full coolers. Catches of dogfish sharks, skates, red drum, bluefish, kingfish, striped bass, and spotted seatrout improved somewhat. Other assorted species were caught in small quantities.

General Overview: Water temperatures continued to warm in the surf zone, with readings in the upper 50s in most locations. The best success rates for anglers fishing from piers and shore have been in the near-shore surf zone. Weather conditions were predicted to be favorable for fishing in the coming week.


http://www.ncdmf.net/fishreport/northdist.html