Anglers along North Carolina’s Outer Banks have enjoyed an unprecedented spring run of bluefin tuna over the past couple of weeks. Small center console boats have had ample opportunity to land bluefins close to shore, and even diehard land-based anglers and kayakers are getting in on the action with a handful of incredible recent catches.
The fish pushed into nearshore waters from Nags Head to Corolla, feeding on everything from Boston mackerel to glass minnows. It is not uncommon for bluefins to push in close to shore as they return north each spring along the North Carolina Coast. They follow the cool-water Labrador Current, which is often pushed tight to the beach by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream just off Cape Hatteras.
Big schools of baitfish congregate on the north side of the shoals that form off the Outer Banks. This year, the bluefin have also been hanging out a little closer than normal, crushing bait in water as shallow as 20 feet. As they come to the surface to feed, it provides well-prepared anglers with an opportunity of a lifetime, sight casting to giant bluefin tuna.
Daryl Law, media relations coordinator for Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, said angler Greg Allen hooked the first couple of tuna from the pier on March 31. “We saw a lot of action on the surface. When Greg made a cast, he hooked up instantly,” Law said. The first fish spooled Allen and then another broke him off as he applied the maximum drag his spinning reel would allow. With fish busting bait on the surface over the last week, Law said pier regulars have tailored their tackle for a better shot at gaining the upper hand.
On Friday, April 4, kayak angler Stefan Turko decided to target the tuna that had been getting so much attention at the pier. After a lot of planning and safety preparations, Turko paddled his kayak out through 2- to 3-foot surf intent on the ultimate saltwater sleigh ride. After tracking activity between the end of the pier and a nearby buoy, Turko made a long cast to surface action with a Van Stall 250 and instantly hooked up. He hooked the massive fish on a 5-inch swimbait less than 1/4 mile off the beach in about 25 feet of water.
After a 30-minute battle, he gaffed the fish and brought it to the beach with some help from some salty friends. With a crowd of more than 50 onlookers, word spread quickly. The next day, another kayak angler, Aki Min, caught another bluefin in the same area.
Meanwhile, the bite up on Jennette’s Pier remained hot. On Sunday, April 6, angler Austin Firkle successfully brought the first tuna to the pilings. He utilized a 10-foot custom rod and a large spinning reel. The sea was alive that day, with fish busting near the end of the pier. Several other bluefin were brought to the pilings over the next couple of hours. None of the fish were taken, however, because it’s illegal to land a bluefin from land or pier. While there are permits available to harvest these fish from a registered vessel, they do not apply to land-based anglers.
Read Next: How to Choose a Fishing Kayak
The hot bite continued into this week with more catch-and-release action from the pier. On Monday April 7, several more tuna were caught, including the fish Outer Banks local Preston Jordan raised off the end of the pier after a 45-minute battle that nearly spooled him twice. He was also fishing with a custom-made rod paired with a Van Stall 250. He normally uses the combo for cobia, as it’s perfect for sight casting large lures. Jordan hooked his tuna on a 9-inch Albie Snax cast into bluefins skying on big schools of glass minnows.
“I fish a lot for false albacore from the pier,” Jordan said. “It was just like that except on steroids. I couldn’t believe it when I finally brought the fish up under our feet.” He was greeted with cheers and high fives from his friends, a large group of salty teenage anglers who live and die by the sea. “That is what I love most about pier fishing, the comradery and friendships you form standing out on the planks,” Jordan said. “Nothing else compares.”
Editor’s Note: On April 8, Jennette’s Pier posted the following message to their socials. No Bluefin Tuna Fishing — A NOAA law enforcement officer visited Jennette’s Pier this morning and advised management that it is illegal for our customers to fish for bluefin tuna. “It is a violation to fish for, catch, possess, retain, or land Atlantic bluefin tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, or roundscale spearfish without a valid permit or endorsement.” The first violation carries a $2,000 fine. We were advised to remove all references to the bluefin bite from our social media platforms because it is considered promoting an illegal activity. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Vessels are required to have a highly migratory species (HMS) permit to fish for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic. There is no HMS permit available for land-based anglers.
