The US Navy has recently reported that it wants to expand it’s bombing ranges within the Pamlico Sound, these bombing ranges are off-limits to recreational boaters and fisherman. The BT-9 and BT-11 bombing ranges in the Pamlico sound have been around for decades but now with stronger and stronger bombs they have decided they need to expand these areas to stay safe. Both areas of off-limits to boats and foot traffic. The BT-9 bombing range is near Brant Island and is already a circular region 6 nautical miles across. If this passes, the region will be expanded so that a boat will have to cross over Brant Island Shoals to pass the island, these shoals are highly dangerous to small recreational fishing boats. The BT-11 bombing range is near Piney Island, if this range is expanded some of our state’s finest shoreline fishing will be taken away. Both of these regions are home to many crabs, shrimp and oysters as well as trout, red drum and flounder. Many see this as a trend of the government taking away public access to our public resources.

Not only are they trying to take away our public access to a fine fishery but they are doing so without a full environmental impact study. No one knows how these high tech bombs will affect local fish habitats but you can bet that they won’t be improved. Please let your local representatives know that you are against the expansion of the BT-9 and BT-11 bombing ranges in the Pamlico Sound.

North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Reports

Bill from Oregon Inlet Fishing Center reported: ”
August 14, 2008 Fishing Report
Ocean conditions while not as bad as were predicted were unsettled enough to keep all but one offshore boat in port. That boat found conditions improving throughout the day. Unless something unforeseen happens it should be a nice day tommorrow. The fishing was good for both dolphin and tile fish. Inshore bluefish and spanish mackerel trolling was good. Open boats went after different types of fish. Only two boats did the same type of fishing. They had good speckled trout and flounder fishing both morning and afternoon. One boat caught puppy drum morning and afternoon. Another boat caught bluefish. Finnally the last boat caught two cobias and a dolphin. Miss Oregon Inlet caught flounders, croakers and sea mullet. I have to get out there and try to catch some of those sea mullet they are really good eating.

August 13, 2008 Fishing Report
Offshore good dolphin and tile fishing. Both fish are good eating. The dolphin are more sporting to catch. For many people the tile fish are their favorite to eat, often compared with grouper. Inshore good trolling for spanish mackerel and tailor bluefish. Open boats also trolled for spanish mackerel and tailor bluefish. Miss Oregon Inlet caught croakers and sea mullet.

August 12, 2008 Fishing Report

Today dolphin combined with tile fish resulted in outstanding catches made at the Gulf Stream. I counted eight white marlin flags and three sailfish flags. Hurrying from one side of the marina to the other I almost missed a god catch. I got there just in time to see the captain tossing fish into a big plastic can. The fish cannot be left on the dock any longer than it takes to get a picture or two. The pickup crew waste no time getting the fish to where they can be kept cool and fresh. Inshore excellent spanish mackerel by all the inshore boats. open boats caught speckled trout and flounders. One boat had a nice catch consisting of a cobia and spanish mackerel. Miss Oregon Inlet caught flounders, sea mullet and croakers in the morning croakers and flounders in the afternoon.”

TW’s Bait and Tackle reported: ”
August 14, 2008 Fishing Report
Surf Fishing Report: Surf-casters are beaching Bluefish and bottom fish.

Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge reported Flounder and Croaker. They have also caught Stripers in the 23 in range. Of course you can’t keep them but it is good action.

Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Small Blues

Nags Head: Spot, Blues and Spade.

Outer Banks: Sea Mullet, Croaker and Blues.

Inshore Boats Report: Spanish and Blues.

Offshore Boats Report: Good Dolphin and Tile fishing.

August 13, 2008 Fishing Report
Surf Fishing Report: Scattered bottom fish and a few Blues.

Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the causeway are catching Black Drum and Flounder

Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Blues and Spadefish.

Nags Head: Blues and Flounder.

Outer Banks: Blues and a 22 lb Cobia and a 50 lb King this morning.

August 12, 2008 Fishing Report
Surf Fishing Report: Bottom fish and Bluefish.

Sound Fishing Report: The Melvin R. Daniel Bridge on the Nags Head/Roanoke Island causeway are decking Flounder and Black Drum.

Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Sea Mullet and Blues.

Nags Head: Blues, Spanish, Spot, and Flounder.

Outer Banks: Blues and Spanish early. Spot, Sea Mullet and seven keeper Flounder.

Inshore Boats Report: Open boats are catching Flounder, Bluefish, Trout and Cobia. Trolling boats are catching Spanish, a few King were caught also.

Offshore Boats Report: Dolphin. Limits of Tilefish are caught. Many Billfish caught and released on Monday.”

NORTH CAROLINA FISHING REPORTS COVERING THE ENTIRE NORTH CAROLINA COAST

Reported from North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

From Knotts Island to Ocracoke:
Ocean: Offshore anglers caught limits of dolphin with moderate amounts of wahoo, king mackerel, amberjack, and billfish.  Very few tuna were caught.  Midrange anglers caught king mackerel, cobia, and very large striped bass 6-8 miles offshore.  Triggerfish, sheepshead, and black sea bass were caught around most of the artificial reefs.  Inshore anglers caught limits of Spanish mackerel with very little effort when seas were calm enough to access them in the near shore surf zone.  There were also some good catches of bluefish, flounder, and kingfish.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and flounder were most prevalent with most specimens being caught in the early morning hours throughout the area.  Keeper ratios have been very good for both flounder and trout.  High numbers of croakers were caught on a daily basis with a few kingfish mixed in.  Sheepshead, tautog, and black drum were caught around the bridge structure at Oregon Inlet.
Piers/Shore: Anglers had similar success to the inshore boaters.  Spanish mackerel catches were the best I have seen in recent memory, with limits being caught by everyone targeting them.  King mackerel catches off piers were very good, with a few citation size ones being recorded this week.  Bluefish were caught in short-term high-volume numbers.   

General Overview: Water temps in the surf are very warm with upper 70s to lower 80s throughout the area.  Catch rates continued to improve ccross the board.  Weather is predicted favorable for the coming week.

From Portsmouth to Surf City:

Ocean:  The Spanish mackerel bite is still strong off the beaches, particularly around Shackleford and Cape Lookout.  Smaller fish in the 10 to 12-inch range have been holding closer to the beach while larger fish of up to 2-3 lbs are in deeper water.  Look out for the occasional small king mixed in!  Small kings, larger Spanish, some keeper flounder, and lots of sharks have also been reported from the near shore artificial reefs and wrecks.  Large black sea bass were caught at AR 300.  Offshore, the dolphin bite appears to have slowed, but many grouper and triggerfish were caught on hard bottom.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: The sheepshead fishing is still good.  In and around Beaufort Inlet, anglers caught some of the biggest sea mullet of the year, along with a mix of spot, croaker and pigfish.  Anglers in the New River/North Topsail area reported catching sheepshead and some nice speckled trout.

Piers/Shore:  Look for bluefish, small sheepshead, spot, croaker, and the occasional black drum or Spanish mackerel.

From Topsail to Sunset Beach:
Ocean: Offshore, bottom fishing in the 30 to 50-mile range has been producing red, gag, and scamp groupers, along with an assortment of other reef fish. Closer to shore there are some kings around but fishing has been a little slow. Most ledges in the 10 to 20-mile range are holding a few fish along with amberjacks, barracuda, and the occasional sailfish. The near shore reefs are holding some nice flounder and spadefish.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing has been decent, considering we are in the dog days of summer. There are still some nice trout catches taking place. Oak Island/Southport area is were most of the trout are being caught. Along with the trout there are some decent flounder catches as well, with fish up to 8 pounds reported last week. Carolina Beach Inlet has produced some nice flounder over the last couple of weeks. Sheepshead and black drum are biting. The ADM dock and Snow’s cut are two good spots to try.

Piers/Shore: Fishing picked up this week. Topsail Island piers saw some spots show up along some pompano and sea mullets. They also saw some more tarpon catches last week. New Hanover and Brunswick county piers reported Spanish, blues, pompano and some keeper flounder. Until Next Week, Tight Lines! Dalton

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