Bluefin tuna that were checked in from the offshore grounds included fish that weighed 279, 253, 240, 205, 201, 172, 165, 140, 126 and 125 pounds, said Affie Meekins at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Boaters scored excellent catches of bluefins and a few yellowfin tuna on Saturday. On Thursday five boats from the marina fished offshore, walloping 2 to 11 yellowfin tuna per vessel, and no bluefins. But the bluefins showed back up Friday and Saturday. News was scarce on Sunday because of Easter. On Monday the fishing beat yellowfins, no bluefins and a few mahi mahi. Nothing was really doing in inshore waters and the surf, because the waters were cold. Visit Web Site.

Hatteras

A 201-pound bluefin tuna got waffled on a charter Saturday, said Capt. Bob Robinson from Fin Seeker Sport Fishing. That fish was trolled, and while the bruiser was fought, the anglers jigged a few more bluefins that were smaller, releasing them, keeping the big one. Plus they trolled eight yellowfin tuna, two mahi mahi and a wahoo on the trip, and big-game fishing was beginning to hit on all cylinders. “It’s just on!” Bob said. Anglers should come down now. Bob sent a photo of the bluefin that was posted on this site. “You look at that photo,” he said. “Those people are happy!” Bluefins bit since winter, and the numbers of yellowfins, mahi and wahoos were increasing as waters warmed. The billfish population should also grow with rising water temps. Grouper fishing is also currently an option in the deep. Call: 757-618-7421. Visit Web Site.

Surf fishing began to pick up, because waters warmed to 65 degrees, said Steve Hissey from The Roost Bait & Tackle at Teach’s Lair Marina. Bluefish stormed the wash at the south end of Ocracoke, and puppy drum were mixed in. A friend who’s a sharpie who chases big drum at night nailed two 42- and 49-inchers at the south end. Puppies started to swim the surf at Hatteras during the right weather, and the warm waters caused big blowtoads and sea mullet to arrive there. A load of puppy drum had schooled Pamlico Sound at a certain area of shallows. But then inexperienced boaters plowed through them, dispersing the fish, and anglers were yet to find them again. In offshore waters on Monday a crew on one boat totaled eight yellowfin tuna, and on Sunday another belted nine yellowfins, a wahoo, seven snowy groupers and five tilefish. Wahoos and mahi mahi were beginning to show up. Big bluefins such as one that weighed 150 pounds were sometimes boated, but anglers had to travel north to find them. A 57-pound bigeye tuna was docked, and Dave saw photos of a blue marlin that was released that must’ve weighed 500 to 600 pounds. Fishing was heating up along with the waters around Hatteras. Visit Web Site.