Weekly Report – May 7, 2010
What a difference a (warm) week makes! Water temps are up to the upper 50s far north to almost 70 south.
The big news along the NC coast is the explosive arrival of some of our favorite inshore summer species, cobia and Spanish mackerel. Cobia fishing from nearshore boats (and a kayak or two) the past few days was described as “the best ever” from Cape Hatteras south to Cape Lookout or thereabouts. Apparently, the fish are schooled up in a long finger of warm water. Some boats reported catching dozens of cobia in the 30-90 pound range sightcasting bucktails. Haven’t heard of any off the beach yet and the continued closure of Ocracoke’s south point decreases the possibility significantly. Spanish fishing off the piers and along the inlets of the beaches of the south-central coast has been excellent as well, with all the tailor bluefish an angler could want. Some of the Spanish have been nice 2-4 pounders while other runs have featured smaller models. Just a few being reported from the Outer Banks, but with more warm weather that could change any day.
North of Oregon Inlet, small bluefish and some speckled trout are being caught in the surf, along with good catches of sea mullet. The north beaches of Hatteras Island have bluefish, sea mullet, blowtoads, and scattered puppy drum. Much of the same from the south beach of Hatteras through Ocracoke and Core Banks, with some nice black drum, a few Spanish, flounder and pompano (another summer species) also being caught. Further south, the Spanish are thick. River fishing is good, with a critical mass of schoolie stripers on the upper Roanoke right now. They will start thinning out soon if the water temperatures continue to rise quickly.
