Northern North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (North Carolina line to Ocracoke)
Overall Summary for the region
Ocean: Offshore anglers continued to find a diverse catch with limits of dolphin and assorted tunas, including yellowfin, blackfin, bigeye and skipjack. Wahoo, greater amberjack, little tunny and Atlantic bonito also hit the docks throughout the week. Billfish catches continued along with releases of sailfish and both blue and white marlin. Midrange anglers had very little to report with the exception of the usual species caught around the artificial reefs with black drum and sheepshead the most common. Near shore catches were much improved over the past few weeks. Flounder and pompano were abundant in the surf zone out to one mile from shore. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were seen on a few occasions of short-term, high-volume catches.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center brings us these reports
8/12/11 Marlin put in an appearance at the Gulf stream. The season when they are most active is getting close. The flags in the lead picture represent nine white marlin caught and released. Everyone of them went to the air. There were fifteen that showed an interest in the baits, nine who connected. The party came from Raleigh and Greenville, North Carolina, They included Will Varnum, Adam Shack, Mike Rowe, Earl Laqne, A. Hobgood and Tim Capps. Two boats caught and released four white marlin and there were two blue marlin caught and released estimated at around 400 pounds. A fair number of yellowfin tunas were caught and some nice wahoos. Several boats limited on dolphin. Inshore boats caught lots of tailor bluefish and spanish mackerel. Open boats- - two caught and released sharks, one caught speckled trout and one caught 2 cobias and some dolphin. Miss Oregon Inlet caught flounders and a variety of other fish.
8/11/11What a beautiful day for fishing. Our offshore boats came in with some dolphin, yellowfin tuna and a few wahoo. There were some billfish releases of sailfish and white marlin. Nearshore fishing was outstanding catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel. Also some catches of tile fish and sea bass. Inshore light tackle and fly fishing charters had a great day with catches of speckled trout, which included a good number of keeper size. Inshore charters also had 3 cobia brought in as well some sharks.
Capt Devin Cage of Poacher Sportfishing reports
8/13/11 80 degree water and plenty of life N of the inlet in the 20ft range. place after place of bluefish with just a few spanish mackerel mixed in. I don't know where the larger areas of spanish got off to but they'll be back.
8/11/11 We had a little swell come through here this past week and that ruined the spanish mackerel fishing. With the light winds we've had over the past 2 days I look for that to improve now that the swell has disapaited...Plenty of bluefish around all sizes and shapes.... Off the beach on all-day trips triggerfish action has been excellent with a few keeper sea bass. Also just off the beach say 6 to 12 miles is a scattered small dolphin even a sailfish or 2 have been reported.... Back in the sound small speckled trout fishing remains good with some keepers as well if you are in the know. On clear water days inside the flounder action has been OK but getting clear water has been the problem...The boats drifting with chum bags are encountering mostly sharks with a rare cobia once in a great while....South Nags Head water temp 81!
Pirate's Cove in Manteo has these fishing reports,
8/12/11 Marlins, Bluefish & Spanish Mackerel Another beautiful day for fishing on the Outer Banks! The Nearshore fleet had great catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel; wreck fishing yielded sea bass and tilefish. The Offshore fleet was rewarded with catch-and-releases of both blue and white marlin, yellowfin tuna and bailer dolphin. We expect a huge turnout for the Alice Kelly Memorial Tournament this Sunday, August 14th. Come down to the docks around 4 - 4:30 PM and see what the ladies have caught! Next week is the 28th Annual Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament running from the 15th thru the 19th featuring live entertainment nightly along with catering from some of the areas finest restaurants. Tickets available at the door. So come down to Mimi's Tiki Hut for a cool drink and watch the Tournament boats arrive with their daily catch and join the excitement of this great week of fishing.
8/10/11Yellowfin, Sailfish, White Marlin and Blue Marlin Release! Quite the variety of fish caught today. Nearshore boats continued to bring in good catches of Spanish Mackerel and Taylor Blues with some false albacore in the mix. The Offshore fleet had Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sailfish releases. Also caught was a 285 pound Bigeye Tuna, yellowfin tuna 2 wahoo and mahi mahi! The bottom fishing trip resulted in very good catches of Tilefish and Black Seabass. We still have boats available for the Alice Kelly tournament on Sunday and for the Big Game Tournament next week. There will be a lot of action going on so stop by Mimi's Tiki Hut and cool down with a cool drinks and awesome Marina Views!
8/9/11 Spanish Mackerel, Taylor Blues and TUNA The nearshore fleet had good trips today resulting in good catches of Spanish Mackerel and Taylor Blues. The weather was a steamer again today, but the wind will be shifting tomorrow bringing a bit of a cooler breeze. The Offshore catch today was Blackfin and Yellowfin Tuna. We have quite a few boats going out tomorrow, so check with us to see what the catch is tomorrow afternoon. Stop by Mimi's for a cool beverage and watch the boats return between 4 and 6pm. Browse the Ship's Store for tournament tees and other cool merchandise. We still have charters available for this week so give us a call for more information on fishing on the Outer Banks at 800-367-4728!
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Flounder success rates kept fishermen busy. Most experienced a 50 percent or greater ratio of keeper-sized fish. Catches were good throughout the area. Fishing in the very shallow waters near islands and land masses was the most important factor in having a good catch. Spotted seatrout catches have improved on a weekly basis. Anglers fishing at Oregon Inlet in Green Island Slough had moderate to good success rates in the early morning hours that dropped off sharply later in the day. Anglers fishing around the bridge pilings in this same area caught plenty of sheepshead, black drum, spadefish, and Atlantic needlefish.
Piers/Beaches: Catches were nearly identical to that of the near shore boaters. Fishermen had effortless catches of pompano and slightly lesser amounts of flounder in the surf zone. Mole crabs (sand fleas) was the bait of choice. Bluefish, with a few Spanish mackerel mixed in, occasionally were caught on a short term basis. Anglers targeting cobia off of the end of piers experienced increased success rates, primarily at night. Assorted other species were caught in low amounts.
Central North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City)
Overall Summary for the region
Ocean: Offshore, anglers reported catching red, gag and scamp groupers along with a wide assortment of reef fish. Closer to shore, sailfish, along with some scattered catches of dolphin, were reported around the 23 mile rock area. Near shore reefs produced very good flounder catches along with some large red drum.
Capt. Joe Shute's Bait and Tackle Report in Atlantic Beach reported, The offshore weather should been pretty good for this weekend according to the recent weather forecast. The wahoo bite continues to be pretty good. From the Rise to the 90 Ft. Drop and the Big Rock there have been decent numbers of wahoo caught. There are still a few dolphin around and a few sailfish are mixed in. There have been a few king mackerel on the eastside of the Cape Lookout shoals around the Atlas Tanker and 30 Minute Rock. Flounder fishing around the artificial reefs has been pretty good this week. Mostly using 1 or 2 oz jig heads with white Berkley Gulp shrimp. The Spanish mackerel slowed up as ome yesterday around the Cape Lookout shoals and the Bardens Inlet. Still a few red drum in the marshes along with a few speckled trout. The old red drum fishing in the Pamlico should start to pick up with this full moon coming on this weekend.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Very little changed over the past couple of weeks. Overall, fishing has been slow. Anglers targeting flounder reported slow fishing, with the best catches coming from Brunswick County. Flounder catches in the Cape Fear River remained very slow. Snow's Cut produced some big flounder – up to 10 pounders. Sheepshead and black drum fishing was a little slow. The best catches came along the rock wall at Fort Fisher and the jetties at Masonboro and Little River inlets. Fishermen reported good red drum fishing, with the best catches coming out of the Cape Fear River. The most productive method was float fishing live shrimp along grassy islands, oyster rocks, and creek mouths.
Piers/Shore: Anglers caught a wide range of fish in low numbers, including spadefish, sheepshead, flounder, pompano, sea mullet and spot. Anglers plugging for Spanish mackerel had some luck, especially in the very early mornings. Surf fisherman did well red drum fishing around some of the areas barrier islands.
Southern North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (Surf City to North Carolina line)
Overall Summary for the Region
Ocean: Offshore, anglers reported catching red, gag and scamp groupers along with a wide assortment of reef fish. Closer to shore, sailfish, along with some scattered catches of dolphin, were reported around the 23 mile rock area. Near shore reefs produced very good flounder catches along with some large red drum.
Capt. Brant from Ocean Isle Fishing Center in Ocean Isle Beach reported
08/12/11 Reuben Green & Brent Elvington weighed a nice 29 pound king caught from 90/9 0 this am. They reported good bait and lots of Spanish.
Ken and Matt Ritch along with Stafford Dunbar landed this citation barracuda at the Shark Hole today. They had hooked a king and the 'cuda ate the king and went on to give 30 minute battle until he was landed. The fish was a citation size 52" and 32#. My understanding is they were going to release the predator.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Very little changed over the past couple of weeks. Overall, fishing has been slow. Anglers targeting flounder reported slow fishing, with the best catches coming from Brunswick County. Flounder catches in the Cape Fear River remained very slow. Snow's Cut produced some big flounder – up to 10 pounders. Sheepshead and black drum fishing was a little slow. The best catches came along the rock wall at Fort Fisher and the jetties at Masonboro and Little River inlets. Fishermen reported good red drum fishing, with the best catches coming out of the Cape Fear River. The most productive method was float fishing live shrimp along grassy islands, oyster rocks, and creek mouths.
Piers/Shore: Anglers caught a wide range of fish in low numbers, including spadefish, sheepshead, flounder, pompano, sea mullet and spot. Anglers plugging for Spanish mackerel had some luck, especially in the very early mornings. Surf fisherman did well red drum fishing around some of the areas barrier islands.
North Carolina Fishing Tournaments, Fishing Shows and Events
20th Annual Rotary Club of Sneads Ferry King Mackerel Tournament at New River Marina
August 20, 2011
For more info: http://www.sneadsferrykmt.com
Brunswick Islands Saltwater Classic at Holden Beach Marina
September 2 - 3, 2011
Info: Terry Adkins, 1-800-546-4622 and http://www.bluewaterpromo.com
Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Tournament
September 15 - 17, 2011
For more info: Terry Adkins, 1-800-546-4622 and http://www.bluewaterpromo.com
North Carolina Flatfish Championship at Carolina Beach
September 17, 2011
For more info: Gary Hurley, 910-452-6378 and http://www.fishermanspost.com
5th Annual Flounder Surf Fishing Tournament at the Bogue Inlet Pier
September 24 - October 8, 2011
For more info: Laurie Wood, 252-354-6350 and http://www.emeraldisle-nc.com
2011 US Open King Mackerel Tournament at the Southport Marina
September 30 - October 1, 2011
For more info: Brad Fisher, 910-457-5787 and http://www.usopenkmt.com
5th Annual Flounder Surf Fishing Tournament at the Bogue Inlet Pier
September 24 - October 8, 2011
For more info: Laurie Wood, 252-354-6350 and http://www.emeraldisle-nc.com
2011 US Open King Mackerel Tournament at the Southport Marina
September 30 - October 1, 2011
For more info: Brad Fisher, 910-457-5787 and http://www.usopenkmt.com
60th Anniversary Nags Head Surf Fishing Club Invitational Tournament
October 5 - 8, 2011
For more info: Maryann Maryott 252-441-1670
1st Annual Island Harbor Marina King Mackerel Tournament in Emerald Isle
October 8, 2011
For more info: Christopher Abee, http://www.islandharbormarinanc.com
Davis Island Fishing Foundation Club (DIFF) Surf Fishing Tournament at Cape Lookout
October 13 - 15, 2011
For more info: Mark Weir, 336-751-5135, http://www.diffclub.com
2nd Annual Marshes Light Fishing Tournament
October 14 - 15, 2011
For more info: Bill Boykin, 252-305-4737, http://www.marsheslight.com
NCBBA 3rd Annual Red Drum Tournament
October 20-23, 2011
Avon, NC
For more info: (252) 995-4171
Tournament Registration Info
CCA Inside/Out Fishing Tournament
October 22, 2011
Portside Marina, Morehead City
For more info: Stephen Ammons, 919.781.FISH(3474), http://www.ccanc.org
9th Annual Gordie McAdams Speckled Trout Surf Fishing Tournament
October 22 - December 3, 2011
For more info: Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation, 252-354-6350, http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/eiprd
2011 Fall Brawl King Classic at Ocean Isle Fishing Center
October 21 - 23, 2011
For more information: Ocean Isle Fishing Center, 910-575-3474, http://www.oifc.com
Pamlico County Shrine Club Speckled Trout Tournament
October 22, 2011
Grantsboro, NC
For more info:252-249-2084
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