Saltwater
Oregon Inlet
With strong winds in the area, several boats remained docked throughout the week. Offshore boats that did go out reported limits of blackfin tuna and an occasional bluefin tuna. Inshore boats reported bluefish, tile fish and dogfish. Contact: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 252-441-6301, www.oregon-inlet.com.
Buxton/Hatteras
There were few reports of spiny dogfish sharks and speckled trout throughout the coast. Puppy drum and sea mullet have been reportedly caught on the beaches. Scattered blowtoads and bluefish were also caught. Offshore boats reported stripers are biting. Contact: Red Drum Tackle 252-995-5414, www.hatteras-island.com; offshore news, Oden's Dock 252-986-2555, www.odensdock.com; or www.hatterasharbor.com.
Ocracoke/Portsmouth
Local anglers are still the only fishermen making it out to fish with the island being closed. Pier fishing and fishing on the beaches showed some success with the toadfish, bluefish, dogfish, black drum and sea mullet. No offshore report came in the past week. Contact: Tradewinds Bait & Tackle 252-928-5491, www.fishtradewinds.com; Morris Marina 252-225-4261, www.portsmouthislandfishing.com.
Cape Lookout/
Bogue Inlet
Anglers are still searching for the bluefin tuna bite that has eluded them for the past few weeks. Inshore and in the sound, the speckled trout bite remained strong in the creeks and the inlets. Offshore, blackfin tuna and wahoo are being caught. Contact: EJW Outdoors 252-247-4725; Portside Marina 252-726-7678; www.ncoif.com.
Topsail Island
Speckled trout, bluefish and black drum are still being caught on the sound side. Blowfish are biting in the south end and in the creeks. In the Gulf Stream, scattered citation grouper and triggerfish were caught. Black sea bass are still being caught and released. Contact: East Coast Discount Tackle 910-328-1887, www.eastcoastsports.com.
Wilmington/ Wrightsville Beach
In the surf, anglers are still reporting that speckled trout are biting. Inshore boats have been catching a few speckled trout and flounder. Bottom fishermen are still finding success with the king mackerel at about the 35-mile range and grouper at about the 25-mile range. Offshore boats reported wahoo and blackfin tuna in the Gulf Stream. Contact: Tex's Tackle 910-791-1763, www.texstackle.com.
Southport/Sunset Beach
Inshore and on the beaches, anglers found success with trout, bluefish, spot and red drum. On the piers, anglers are catching trout and black drum. Offshore, scattered wahoo and blackfin tuna are still biting in the Gulf Stream. Contact: Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle 910-457-1221; www.yeahrightcharters.com; or www.oifishingcenter.com.
Freshwater
Falls Lake
Fishing in the area remains slow, but largemouth bass are being caught on jerkbaits on main lake points, and on jigheads and spinner baits in the back of the creeks. Crappie are bunched up deep in about 20 feet of water around bridge pilings and laydowns on live minnows. Water level: normal 251.5, Wednesday 248.5, full pool 264.8. Contact: Outhouse Tackle 919-217-0085; www.wmi.org.
Kerr Lake
The largemouth bass have been scattered, but are still being caught on crankbaits and deeper on jigging spoons. Catfish are still being caught on cutbaits. Crappie are being caught on small bucktails or live baits. Striped bass are bunched up and biting shallow on live baits. Water level: normal 300, Wednesday 297.87, full pool 320. Contact: Bobcat's Bait & Tackle 434-374-8381; www.kerrlake.com.
Lake Wheeler
Largemouth bass are scattered, but some have been caught on jigheads and crankbaits. Catfish are being caught on stinkbaits. Contact: park office 919-662-5704.
Shearon Harris Lake
Crappie are biting at deeper depths on live minnows. Anglers reported that largemouth bass are being caught shallow on soft plastic worms and deep on jigging spoons. Contact: The Tackle Box 919-557-8255; www.wmi.org.
(For water levels go to - epec.saw.usace.army.mil/)
