Hatteras June 9, 2011
Bill Degraw, of Lewisville, NC, and Capt. Willie Foster, of Twin Bills Charters, with a 51 lb. bull dolphin they hooked while trolling ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Inlet. Photo courtesy of Jam at Teach's Lair Marina.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been staying busy over the past week. Sea mullet, pompano, and some spot and croaker are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas in the breakers.
Plenty of bluefish are around in the surf as well, though they’re running a bit smaller than in past weeks.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, and pier anglers are connecting with them while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures.
Cobia are also cruising just off the beaches, and pier anglers landed several last week.
Anglers are hooking up with some sheepshead (to 10+ lbs.) while fishing from the Bonner Bridge catwalk with sand fleas.
Malcolm, of Frank and Fran’s Bait and Tackle, reports that cobia are moving through the area, and anglers are picking up a few on the piers on live baits. Several cobes have also been caught from the surf at Ramp 45 in Buxton.
Taylor bluefish are feeding all along the beaches and taking an interest in just about anything anglers can cast.
Some spanish mackerel are in the mix and will fall for small metal casting lures worked quickly from the beach and piers.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with sea mullet and pompano while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Hoopty, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that anglers have landed a few cobia (to 65 lbs.) while kayaking cut baits to the outer bar off Ramp 43 over the past week.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the shore, and the bite has been decent for surf casters working metal lures in the evening hours recently. Boaters are catching plenty while trolling spoons within a mile of the beaches.
Some large (to 10+ lbs.) bluefish are still around and feeding actively in the morning and evening hours.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with decent catches of sea mullet and pompano in the surf at Frisco on shrimp and sand fleas.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf anglers are finding solid action with sea mullet and pompano while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
The flounder bite has been decent in the breakers as well, and anglers are also hooking up with good numbers of flatfish in the sound.
Some large bluefish are still feeding in the island’s surf.
Small blues and spanish mackerel are piling on small spoons for boats trolling around the inlet and along the beaches.
Offshore, the billfish bite has been excellent lately, with big numbers of white marlin and a few blues and sailfish. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures will attract attention from the billfish. Good numbers of dolphin along with a few blackfin tuna, wahoo, and amberjacks are also feeding in the blue water and falling for trolled ballyhoo.
Candice Cobb, of Ocracoke, NC, with a black drum she hooked in the island’s surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the dolphin bite has been up-and-down lately, but boats are still putting together good catches of gaffers (with fish to 50+ lbs.) on most days while trolling skirted ballyhoo. The billfish bite has been excellent over the past week, with big numbers of white marlin and some blues and sailfish in the mix.
In the surf, anglers are still finding solid action with pompano and sea mullet. Sand fleas have been the most productive bait, and hand-tied fluorocarbon rigs with gold Kahle hooks and little hardware are outproducing store-bought bottom rigs.
Spanish have been feeding along the breakers around daybreak and sunset, when anglers are tempting them to bite small metal casting lures.
There are still some large bluefish feeding in the surf, but the chopper action is waning.
Flounder fishing is still excellent along the channels in the sound. Small live baits or scented soft plastics like Gulps will attract attention from the flatfish.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that the Hatteras fleet has been putting together good to excellent catches of gaffer dolphin recently, with some wahoo and yellowfin and blackfin tunas mixed in. The billfish bite has also been solid for much of the past week, with plenty of white marlin action and a decent number of encounters with blue marlin. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling all of the blue water fish.
Kathleen, of Hatteras Island Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with triggerfish, spadefish, sheepshead, pigfish, and pompano on rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding near the pier and taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other metal lures.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers are hooking up with some fat sea mullet on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
A few flounder are also finding their way into surf anglers’ coolers.
Large and small bluefish are taking an interest in just about anything anglers are casting.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches early and late in the day, and anglers are hooking them on small metal casting lures.
Boaters are connecting with the spaniards while casting and trolling small spoons.
Bluefish, keeper flounder, and a few cobia are coming over the rails of boats fishing inshore in the sound.
Offshore, anglers are still putting together nice catches of dolphin along with a few tuna and billfish.
