Surf, inshore, offshore bite is hot in Nags Head area

Nags Head
The redfish bite has been on fire in the surf around Nags Head.

With Hurricane Dorian gone, fishing is back to normal

Here’s our latest fishing report from Oceans East Bait & Tackle at Nags Head.

Hurricane Dorian muddled things up a bit for several days in the Nags Head area, but the good fishing has picked right back up. And that goes for surf anglers, inshore anglers, and offshore anglers.

Outer Banks anglers noticed a nice uptick in beach fishing once the storm died down, and it has stayed hot ever since. The red drum have been on fire in the surf. These fish have come in a mixture of sizes, from under-the-slot puppies to some nice keepers. And the bulls are also in the mix.

“Anglers fishing on the north and south side of Oregon Inlet have been catching drum up to 50 inches long from the beach. Fresh mullet has been the bait of choice,” said Jimmy Hillsman of Oceans East.

The beaches have also been giving up some nice speckled trout, especially from Kitty Hawk to Rodanthe. Hillsman said anglers are catching the majority of specks on Z-Man soft plastic lures and Gulp! lures.

“Bottom fishing was really good with catches of sea mullet, pompano, blues, and some scattered spots as well,” said Hillsman.

Anglers catching limits of dolphin, blackfin, and swordfish

Offshore anglers have been just as busy catching fish out of Oregon Inlet. Limits of meat fish like dolphin and blackfin tuna have been the norm, including some big fish. Reports of yellowfin have been scattered, with good catches in some areas on some days. Wahoo have been the same way.

Nags Head
Speckled trout have also been biting good in the surf.

Billfish anglers have seen enough action to keep them coming back for more, but overall the bite has been inconsistent. Some boats have caught as many as seven billfish in a day, while others in the same area have hooked into just one or two.

The exception among billfish has been the swordfish. That bite is red hot, and some anglers have made some outstanding swordfish catches in the past week.

The weatherman is calling for a cooling trend to the air temperatures later this week, and even though we’re sure to be in for another Indian summer or two before things cool off for good, fall is on the way. And that means the bite will only get better. And with the summer crowds gone and the fish biting, this is a great time to visit the Outer Banks. When you do, stop by Oceans East in Nags Head (252-441-7413) for all your fishing needs and local advice.

Click here to read more about the current surf fishing report throughout the Carolinas.

About Brian Cope 2931 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@carolinasportsman.com.

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