Virginia Tautog, Carolina Red Drum

Wes Blow

As water temperatures rise our tautog bite is picking up.  The water temperature is up to 49.1 degrees at Thimbles Shoals. Ocean wrecks usually produced first, but now the bite has moved into the bay. Look for taugs anywhere there’s structure. Popular areas include the CBBT, Back River Reef, the Cell, Tower Reef, the Concrete Ships, Cape Henry Wreck, the Santore, the Winthrop, and the Triangle Wrecks. The best bait consists of crab, clam, or a combination of both. Wes Blow and Captain Craig Paige (Paige II Charters) both got in on the action this week.

Paige II Charters

Down on the Outer Banks of North Carolina red drum have been caught at the point and near ramps 48 and 55 in Buxton.  As many as ten per day have been reported to local tackle shops. There are plenty of sharks and skates around. Blow toads and sea mullet are scattered up and down the beaches.

The Oregon Inlet fleet has been returning to docks with limits of yellow fin and now a few mahi are in the mix. There continues to be some giant blue fin around.