Big Wahoo, Lots of Specks, Look for Tautogs

Speckled trout fishing has been super. Anglers are having success inside all the local inlets and on tidal rivers near the bay. Fishing on the Eastern Shore bay-side has been especially good. The trout season should be peeking.

There are plenty of school-sized striped bass available especially around bridges and docks with lights. Anglers are casting light tackle such as swim baits and bucktails.

Tautog catches at the CBBT should be on the rise. The bay water temperature is now in the low 60’s. Tautog action should continue as water temps drop into the upper 50’s. Ocean wrecks often hold larger fish. Crabs are always your best bait.

Thanks to a couple of warm water eddies that spun off the gulfstream Virginia has enjoyed some outstanding late season bluewater action. Lots yellowfin tuna, some albacore tuna, dolphin and a few billfish. But the headliner has to be the large number of wahoo. Very large wahoo, with several fish topping the 100 pound mark. The State Record sets at 122 lbs 1 oz, caught in 2012 by Susan Nelson.

According to Dr Ken Neill the bite was around the 850 line. He said there was some 73 degree water in 40 fathoms holding wahoo and tuna. And some 76 degree water in 100 fathoms holding more tuna and wahoo. There was a finger of 67 degree water between the warm water areas.

Some have successfully targeted swordfish in the same areas.  Deep droppers are catching golden tile, rosefish and sea bass. The blueline tilefish season is closed right now.

Inshore wrecks are holding plenty of sea bass and some tautog and flounder.

OBX, NC

Surf and pier anglers are catching a few large red drum, but mostly roundheads, croaker, spots, specks and pups.

Stripers are inside the inlet around bridges. There has been some good action near the bridges on the west side of Manteo.

Speckled trout catches in the sound near marshy grass shorelines and near oyster beds has been very good.

The offshore fleet has been targeting the same warm eddies as the Virginia boats. Boats are returning with tuna, dolphin, wahoo and with a few marlin release flags flying.

NEXT REPORT NOVEMBER 23