Central District Fishing Report —
Pamlico, Craven, Carteret and Onslow Counties  Contact: Jesse Bissette (Jesse.Bissette@ncdenr.gov) For the week of Oct. 8-14
Ocean: Wahoo fishing was spectacular! Many boats brought back double-digit numbers of fish, including some absolute monsters. Mixed in with the wahoo were some blackfin tuna and even a handful of dolphin. A few Spanish mackerel were caught by anglers targeting them, but that fishing started to taper off. Little tunny were seen chasing schools of baitfish from Beaufort Inlet to Cape Lookout, with the highest concentration around the cape. Some bluefish were caught by those targeting little tunny, as well. Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Anglers fishing the area marshes had decent catches of red drum. Most of the drum were keepers, but a few were over-the-slot fish. Spotted seatrout fishing began to pick up. Good numbers of fish were caught by anglers fishing in the Haystacks area of the Newport River and at the Radio Island jetty; unfortunately, most of the fish were small. Spot fishing was still hit or miss, but some anglers fishing in the State Port turning basin and in Gallants Channel were able to fill their coolers. Good numbers of flounder were brought back to the docks, mostly caught around the NC State Port wall and the Coast Guard Station at Fort Macon. Piers/Shore: Pier fishing was still limited due to storm damage, but those who tried were rewarded with a handful of spot and pompano, as well as some bluefish and even a few red drum. Anglers surf fishing at Fort Macon landed both keeper and over-the-slot red drum, as well as a few flounder.
For the fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional Highly Migratory Species harvest reporting requirements are also in place. To obtain a permit go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/compliance/permits_reporting/index.html Report a tagged fish Please note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and Spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make sure you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here) A recreational fishing license went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters. Click here for the latest seasons, size and bag limits. Please note: New reports are usually posted by early Monday afternoon. | 
