Added on Thursday, April 25, 2013  Fish Post

Hatteras April 25, 2013

Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are starting to see some decent speckled trout action in the sound, with fish biting from Kitty Hawk down to Rodanthe. Soft plastic baits are fooling most of the specks.

Some puppy drum and chopper bluefish are feeding around Hatteras Inlet and taking an interest in anglers’ offerings.

In the local surf, pufferfish and sea mullet are still making up most of the action, with a few bluefish and puppy drum as well. Shrimp and cut baits are tempting most of the bites from the surf dwellers.

Cape Point is closed to vehicular access, but anglers who are willing to make the walk may connect with some citation-class red drum, especially once the winds return to southerly directions.

Terry, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers hooked sea mullet, spot, and pufferfish last week when the weather was milder. Both shrimp and squid have been effective on the bottom feeders.

The northeast winds have dropped the surf temperatures into the mid-50’s, but when they creep back up toward 60 degrees, anglers can expect the bottomfish to start biting again.

Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that rough weather has slowed the action a bit lately, but anglers have been connecting with good numbers of pufferfish and some healthy sea mullet when the beachfront is fishable. A few smaller bluefish (to 3 lbs.) have also been feeding in the surf.

Some puppy drum have been scattered along the beach from Rodanthe to Hatteras Inlet as well.

Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers have hooked a few black drum and scattered sea mullet and pufferfish lately, primarily on shrimp.

Menhaden have started to show up in the sound, which means the spring speckled trout and puppy drum bite should be getting started soon.

Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that the northeast winds and cooler temperatures slowed the fishing a bit in recent days, but anglers have hooked some sea mullet and pufferfish around Frisco and caught and released a few red drum in the Hatteras surf. The panfish are falling for cut shrimp and other smaller baits, while larger cut baits are tempting most of the bites from the big reds.

When the weather was milder last week, black drum and better hauls of sea mullet and pufferfish were rewarding beach anglers from Buxton to Hatteras.

Some large chopper bluefish have also been feeding around Hatteras Inlet. They’ll take an interest in a variety of baits and lures.

Inshore boats also reported some solid puppy drum action in the Pamlico Sound last week.

When the offshore fleet could last make it out, the boats connected with yellowfin and blackfin tunas, dolphin, king mackerel, and wahoo. Decent numbers of mako sharks have also been feeding offshore and taking an interest in trolled baits recently.

Offshore bottom fishing has been productive with tilefish and grouper.

Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there’s been a solid yellowfin tuna bite off Hatteras Inlet over the past few weeks (with most fish in the 30 lb. range). The best action has been to the south of the inlet and off Ocracoke recently, and some wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin tuna are in the mix as well.

Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the blue water predators.

Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are still finding some sea mullet and pufferfish while soaking shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs in the Ocracoke surf.

Bluefish (ranging from pan-sized to 10+ lb. choppers) are also feeding in the surf, and they’re taking an interest in cut baits.

Cut baits are also producing some puppy drum and a few citation-class larger reds for lucky anglers fishing the island’s beachfront.