Outer Banks Fishing Report July 25 by Joe Malat

This was a week of contrasts along the Outer Banks.  Thunderstorms, searing air temperatures that hit the mid-nineties, gusty southwest winds and frigid ocean temperatures along the north beaches made fishing a bit of a challenge and an endurance test. However, there were a few good reports for surfcasters and boaters who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Now, here's an update on the fishing.

When I prepared this report on the morning of Sunday, July 25 the surf temperature at the US Army corps of Engineers pier in Duck was a frigid 57 degrees!  This has been the norm for the past week, with the surf temp hovering in the low sixties to high fifties. As a result, the surf action north of Oregon Inlet was limited to scattered spot, croakers and sea mullet. But Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands had some better news to report.

The southwest wind was humping this week, sometimes gusting to 30 and that slowed the angling activity just a bit.  But there was some big news for beach anglers.  Superintendent Mike Murray announced the reopening of the east side of Cape Point in Cape Hatteras National Seashore near Buxton, NC to off-road vehicle (ORV) access effective immediately.  The area is now open to ORV traffic from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily.  The night-time prohibition on beach driving is still in effect on all National Seashore beaches from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. The pre-nesting area west of Cape Point remains in effect and is posted as closed to vehicles, pedestrians and pets.  And it didn't take long for the fish to cooperate for anglers who ventured to the Point. Lots of bluefish to three pounds, Spanish mackerel and puppy drum were caught and a lot of tarpon were seen, with one or two hooked up by anglers who were throwing lures to the Spanish and blues.

Ramps 43 and 44 had lots of sea mullet.  The beach between Rodanthe and Avon had a mix of sea mullet, bluefish, spot, sea mullet and croakers.

At Ocracoke, it was tough fishing due to the winds, but sea mullet, flounder, pompano and bluefish were on the beach.  About 1 ½ miles of beach near the south end of the island we reopened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The inshore and offshore boats got beat up by the wind and cold water along the beach this week.  However, there are still a lot of nice sized bluefish up to three pounds, around Oregon Inlet, but to catch 'em you have to find 'em and that can be a challenge.  Folks who are connecting with the fish are slow to give up too many details.  Some Spanish mackerel were mixed in the bluefish that were holding around the bars at the mouth of the inlet.

Nearshore boats found amberjacks, up to 45 pounds, around some of the wrecks and towers and caught them on live bait. Boats are also catching some triggerfish, black sea bass and spadefish and a few cobia continue to be seen.

Huge schools of big red drum continue to be seen milling around in the ocean a few miles from the beach between Oregon Inlet and the northern beaches. They are all big fish, so it's catch and release.

Terrific action on speckled trout was reported from small boaters fishing at Hatteras Inlet this week.  Some keeper-sized flounders were caught along the channel edges.

Northern pier anglers were hampered by cold, dirty water and gusty winds. Catches were mostly croakers, sea mullet and spot.  A few Spanish were reported when the water cleared briefly near the end of the week.  Avon and Rodanthe piers reported a summer mix of Spanish macks, bluefish, sea mullet croakers and spot.