Saltwater
Oregon Inlet
Offshore boats are still reporting catches of large bluefin tuna, with some measuring in between 50-60 inches along with several released. Offshore anglers also reported limits of yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna and a few wahoo.
Contact: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 252-441-6301, www.oregon-inlet.com.
Buxton/Hatteras
Inshore and on the pier, blowtoads, speckled trout, puppy drum and sea mullet are still biting. Offshore boats reported limits of yellowfin tuna along with scattered blackfin tuna and wahoo biting. Some large bluefin tuna have been caught on offshore boats as well, but several have been released.
Contact: Red Drum Tackle 252-995-5414, www.hatteras-island.com; offshore news, Oden’s Dock 252-986-2555, www.odensdock.com; Hatteras Harbor 252-986-2166, or www.hatterasharbor.com.
Ocracoke/Portsmouth
On the beaches, red drum, speckled trout, sea mullet and bluefish are biting. Inshore boats reported red drum, sea mullet and speckled trout are biting. Offshore anglers are reporting scattered catch-and-release bluefin tuna and limits of yellowfin tuna.
Contact: Tradewinds Bait & Tackle 252-928-5491, www.fishtradewinds.com; Morris Marina 252-225-4261, www.portsmouthislandfishing.com.
Cape Lookout/Bogue Inlet
Inshore, speckled trout, sea mullet and bluefish are biting in several areas. Speckled trout and red drum are still biting in the sound. Offshore boats have reported blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna and wahoo are biting. Bottom fishermen are still finding success with triggerfish and grouper.
Contact: EJW Outdoors 252-247-4725; Portside Marina 252-726-7678; www.ncoif.com.
Topsail Island
On the beaches, speckled trout, puppy drum, bluefish and red drum are biting. Offshore, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and grouper are being caught in quantity.
Contact: East Coast Discount Tackle 910-328-1887, www.eastcoastsports.com.
Wilmington/ Wrightsville Beach
On the beaches, speckled trout, red drum and puppy drum are being caught. Inshore boats reported catches of red drum and scattered speckled trout. Offshore boats found success with wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Contact: Tex’s Tackle 910-791-1763, www.texstackle.com.
Southport/Sunset Beach
Off of the piers and in the surf, whiting and bluefish have been caught. In the inlets and creeks, grey trout, speckled trout and red drum are biting. Offshore boats have reported that wahoo, Spanish mackerel and blackfin tuna are picking up.
Contact: Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle 910-457-1221; www.yeahrightcharters.com; or www.oifishingcenter.com.
Freshwater
Falls Lake
Largemouth bass continue to bite from midway to the back of the creeks on jerkbaits, rattle traps, shallow or mid-range crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are still biting in shallow points at about 10 to 12 foot depths on minnows. Water level: normal 251.5, Wednesday 253.41, full pool 264.8.
Contact: Outhouse Tackle 919-217-0085; www.wmi.org.
Jordan Lake
Crappie are biting on minnows and nightcrawlers in shallow to medium points. Largemouth bass are picking up in the area and are biting on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Water level: normal 216, Wednesday 216.42, full pool 240. Contact: Wilsonville General Store 919-362-7101; Crosswinds Marina 919-362-5391.
Kerr Lake
Largemouth bass are still being caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are biting on live minnows in shallow points and near brush piles. Catfish are biting on stinkbaits at medium to deep depths. Water level: normal 300, Wednesday 303.76, full pool 320.
Contact: Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle 434-374-8381; www.kerrlake.com.
Lake Wheeler
Largemouth bass are still being caught on crankbaits at shallow depths. Crappie have been biting on minnows at medium depths. Catfish remain scattered but continue to bite on stinkbaits. Contact: Wilsonville General Store 919-362-7101.
Shearon Harris Lake
Largemouth bass have been found in large quantities in the shallow beds, with anglers catching them with several different baits such as crankbaits, pink worms and spinnerbaits. Crappie are being caught on live minnows and crappie jigs at shallow depths.
(For water levels go to http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/)
