While many anglers took a break from fishing for the holiday season, others were on the water. Read more to see how they fared.
Northern North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (North Carolina line to Ocracoke)
Overall Summary for the region
Ocean: Winter anglers catch plenty of yellowfin tuna, when conditions permit, along with a few wahoo and dolphin, to make for some good offshore action. Midrange anglers target striped bass and red drum during the winter season with moderate to good success. Find a regional fishing website that reports daily catches or contact a local tackle shop for up-to-date fishing reports.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center brings us these reports
01/01/2012 Happy New Year!! What a beautiful day! We had 3 offshore boats out today. They came back in with limits of yellowfin tuna, a few blackfin tuna, an 80lb mako shark and a 34lb wahoo. One of the boats went bottom fishing and had a great day with catches of seabass, tilefish and a few large bluefish. Their catch included a 10lb citation tilefish.What an outstanding day of fishing. One of the offshore charters was a makeup group. If you don't have a party of 6 sign up online or come by to sign up. We will post pictures tomorrow.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: When weather permits, activity will be heavy with anglers targeting striped bass. They are often found throughout the Roanoke, Croatan and northern Pamlico sounds, especially near bridges or any other structure. There will also be some good winter catches of spotted seatrout and red drum. Good places to try include around the barrier islands and Oregon Inlet's Green Island Slough from pre-dawn to mid-morning hours.
Piers/Beaches: Piers are currently closed, most will re-open around Easter. Beach anglers may have a tough time fishing this time of year due to rough surf and adverse weather, but once again, when conditions permit, some of the largest red drum and striped bass are taken from the surf. Bluefish blitzes can happen this time of year and offer anglers some short-term active fishing. Don’t forget about the possibility of some excellent speckled trout surf fishing this winter on the beaches from Rodanthe southward.
Central North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City)
Overall Summary for the region
Ocean: There will be plenty of excellent fishing opportunities onboard charter boats during the winter. The central district has become home to North Carolina’s bluefin tuna fishery. Multiple hook-ups and multiple fish days are the norm rather than the exception. Another species that sometimes makes the winter scene in the Central area is striped bass. Striped bass are sometimes taken from Cape Lookout Shoals and other areas along the beach throughout the winter. Other offshore species such as king mackerel, yellowfin tuna and wahoo will also be available to Gulf Stream anglers. Bottom fishing for a variety of reef fish species is also excellent during the winter months. There are several headboats that operate throughout the year. Some of the best snapper and grouper catches occur during the winter, providing a quality fishing experience. Extended/overnight fishing trips are also offered. Bluefin tuna trips have also been offered in the past. Private boat anglers will enjoy many of the same opportunities as those mentioned for charter boat anglers. Near-shore bluefin tuna fishing should be excellent. Those fishing offshore will have access to excellent catches of king mackerel.
Capt. Joe Shute's Bait and Tackle Report in Atlantic Beach reported on Jan. 2 that yesterday was a pretty good start to the 2012 bluefin season.* It was one of the nicest days you could ask for on the water.* Clear skies, no wind, clean clear water, plenty of bait and a few bluefin around to tug on your string.* As far as I know from listening to the radio and talking to the guys that were fishing there were only around 4 ro 5 boats fishing for bluefin yesterday.* Capt. Keith Logan aboard the "Fishing Frenzy" hooked up around 9 am and boated a 87 inch bluefin that cored out at 294 lbs.* Congratulations for a nice catch.* A little bit later another boat had a 80 wide almost dumped before that braided line cut into it-self and bound up breaking the line with a loud pop that sounded like a 22 caliber rifle shot going off.* I didn't hear about any more bluefin caught yesterday.* Hopefully this is the start of a good 2012 season.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: The speckled trout fishing was excellent this fall in the central district. A good winter fishery is in the making. Newly established striped bass fishing on the shoals of Cape Lookout will also be a favorite. Inside, the creeks of the White Oak, New, Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo rivers will offer occasional excellent speckled trout fishing. Good catches of speckled trout were already being reported in the fall from Bay River, Campbell’s Creek and other central area tributaries. Do a little research before going, this is a specialized fishery. You might want to consider a local guide. This will greatly improve your opportunity to get on the fish.
Piers/Shore: Most piers are closed for the season. Some may allow access, but catches will be limited. Shore fishing activity will be limited.
Southern North Carolina Tidal Waters Fishing Reports (Surf City to North Carolina line)
Overall Summary for the Region
Ocean: Anglers on private and charter boats enjoy some of the best bottom fishing and king mackerel fishing of the year during the winter months. Frying Pan Tower normally holds lots of king mackerel. Look for bait and water temperature around 70 degrees. There may also be great fishing, in these same areas, for groupers, sea bass, porgies and other various bottom fish. Bluefin tuna are another option during the winter months. Ledges around the shoals such as the Fairway Ledge and the Cucumber are good places to look for one.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: If the weather is not too cold, speckled trout and red drum fishing can be good during the winter months. Look for the trout around the inlets and the drum in the bays and up in the back of the creeks. Striped bass fishing in the Cape Fear River is another option for wintertime fishing.
Piers/Shore: Most piers are closed for the season. Some may allow access, but catches will be limited.
See you on the water,
Bryce Butner
Tidal Fish North Carolina Associate Editor
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