Nags Head, Avon, Cape Point have been sites of recent runs of bull reds
Surf fishing on the Outer Banks has been great over the past week or so, especially for the big drum that draw so many anglers to beaches from Nags Head south to Ocracoke.
Frank Folb at Frank & Fran’s tackle shop in Avon said a handful of big drum were caught in the surf at Buxton’s Cape Point on Wednesday night, along with plenty of what he termed “yearlings” – 8- to 10-pound fish making their first appearance in the ocean after spending the early part of their lives in the backwaters.
In addition, Avon Pier reported seven big drum caught this morning before 11 a.m., and Folb (252-995-4171) said a big run at Nags Head last week was the best in years.
“On Friday and Saturday, they caught ‘em as good as they ever have,” he said. “There were about 200 citation-sized drum caught and released.”
Most fishermen are using big pieces of cut mullet or menhaden on fish-finder rigs, which allow a big drum to pick up a bait without feeling the weight of the often-heavy sinker that has to be used to keep the bait on the bottom.
In addition to the big drum, Folb said a lot of fish have been scattered up and down the surf, plenty for the anglers who have made the drive down to fish.
“We’ve had fish scattered just about everywhere. There are a lot of fish around, and the fishing has been pretty good,” he said.
Fishermen have been catching sea mullet, speckled trout, small bluefish and black drum from the piers and surf – and even a few spot.
