Oregon Inlet
Fishing Opportunities
By Joe Malat

At right: An August bluefish with the lure still in it's mouth. Joe Malat photo

Oregon Inlet is world famous as an anchorage for sleek charter boats that fish the offshore waters of the Gulf Stream. The inshore fishing can also be an outstanding location where anglers with trailerable outboard fishing boats in the 18 to 25 foot range can target a variety fish.

There’s not much going on in January, February and March, but by late spring, speckled trout, bluefish, flounder, puppy drum, gray trout, and an assortment of smaller bottom fish can be caught as the waters warm. Spanish mackerel and sheepshead arrive in the summer. The specks turn on again in the early fall, and are joined by plenty of puppy drum.

All of these fish can be caught within a few minute boat ride from the boat ramp at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and most of the same locations produce fish on a recurring basis, year after year.

Above: Mike Corbett fooled this bluefish with a soft tailed jig while casting from a small outboard boat near the Oregon Inlet Bridge. Joe Malat photo

Speckled trout are a local favorite, and can be found near Duck Island, Green Island Slough on the south side of the Inlet, the marsh islands at the southern end of Wanchese, or the Roanoke Sound behind the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Some of the most productive areas are the cuts of deeper water that run alongside many of the marsh islands. Puppy drum also frequent all of these locations, especially in the late summer and early fall. Lead head jigs with new penny Gulp! tails, soft plastic tails in a variety of shades of green and MirrOLures are consistent producers for the trout and drum.

For flounder, try drifting through Davis Channel, also known as Davis Slough, with double bucktail rigs sweetened with strips of squid or fresh mullet. Mostly this area is unmarked, except for a few lone pilings adorned only with reflectors, to mark the major shoals. The slough can drop to depths of more than 20 feet, but rise quickly to less than six inches of water, so be careful as you learn to navigate this tricky, but productive area. Some of the best flounder catches can come at slack high tide when the water is clear. Flounder can also be found along the edges of practically any channel around the inlet.

Bluefish in all sizes may appear anywhere from the ocean to several miles westward in Pamlico Sound. They can be caught on lead head jigs, cut bait on the bottom, or by casting shiny metal spoons to breaking fish early and late in the day. Old House Channel, which runs southwest down the sound, is good in late summer and early fall to troll small Clark spoons and nylons for little blues and Spanish mackerel,

Spot, croakers, and sea mullet can be found anywhere around the inlet. Try drifting with small pieces of bloodworms or squid, and you’ll probably have all the action you can handle.

Big sheepshead, many over 5 pounds, arrive around the bridge in June, and stay all summer. These fish can be fooled with pieces of cracked hard crab, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas. This is specialized, challenging fishing. Success depends on being able to place your bait right next to the bridge pilings where these fish eat. Most of the locals tie their boat to the bridge, and climb on to the bases of the pilings to fish. That’s okay on a calm day, but if the ocean is rough or there is any swell coming in with a hard-running rising tide, this fishing is tough.

If your boat is stable and seaworthy, you may want to venture outside of the inlet to troll for bluefish and Spanish mackerel, or look for schools of red drum on the shoals at the mouth of the inlet. Striped bass live on the shoals when the water begins to cool in November, and will take live eels drifted around the bridge pilings.

The Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is located on the north side of the inlet. There’s no fee to use the well-maintained ramps, with finger piers alongside each, parking for trailers and vehicles is free. Anglers will also find fuel, bait, tackle, some basic boating accessories, ice, sandwiches and a fish cleaning service.