Hatteras July 26, 2012
Matthew Waddel, of E-Z Bait and Tackle, and Lauren Rouse with Rouse's first wahoo, a citation fish that fell for a ballyhoo under a black Ilander on the 850 Line.
Jim, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are still hooking good numbers of flounder in the new inlet north of Rodanthe. Gulp baits and other soft plastics are fooling most of the fish.
Surf casters are finding plenty of action with some fat sea mullet, pompano, spot, and croaker, mostly while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Some puppy drum are also feeding along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking them from the surf and piers.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding just offshore when the water’s clean, and anglers can hook them while working Gotcha plugs and metal casting jigs.
The speckled trout bite is still strong in the sound around Rodanthe, and anglers are also connecting with some puppy drum in the same areas. Gulp baits will tempt bites from the specks and pups.
Ian, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that some spot, croaker, sea mullet, and pompano have been feeding just off the beaches, and surf casters are hooking them on shrimp and bloodworms.
There are still some speckled trout feeding in the sound, where soft plastic baits will tempt them to bite.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that sea mullet, spot, and bluefish have been providing most of the action for surf casters lately. Some smaller pompano have been in the mix when the water’s clean. Bloodworms seem to be the most effective baits in the surf right now.
A few flounder are coming from the surf and sound, and cut baits or Gulps will tempt them to bite.
The speckled trout bite is still going in the sound, with soft plastic baits producing most of the action.
Some sheepshead are feeding around sandbars inshore, where sand fleas will tempt them to bite.
Boaters have hooked a few cobia recently in deeper holes around the Ocracoke side of Hatteras Inlet.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf casters are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and pompano on the Buxton and Frisco beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the action.
Some spanish mackerel have been hooked from the Buxton beach by anglers working metal lures from the sand.
Trolling around Hatteras Inlet is still producing good catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel, with Clarkspoons responsible for most of the action.
Speckled and gray trout continue to feed in the sloughs of Pamlico Sound, where boaters can hook them on soft plastic baits. Some yearling red drum are also feeding in the sound and will bite soft plastics or a variety of natural baits.
John "JAM" Mortensen, of Teach's Lair Marina, with a 1 lb., 13 oz. citation sea mullet he hooked in the Hatteras surf on a River Rig.
Offshore trollers are reporting a continued dolphin bite with decent numbers of wahoo also in the mix. A few sailfish have been mixed in lately as well, and naked and skirted ballyhoo are tempting bites from all the Gulf Stream gamefish.
Bottom fishing in the blue water is producing some grouper, sea bass, and triggerfish.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin fishing remains consistent offshore of Hatteras Inlet, with both gaffers and bailers in the mix.
The billfish bite is still going as well, with releases of blue and white marlin and good numbers of sailfish for the Hatteras fleet over the past week.
Skirted and naked ballyhoo are fooling most of the offshore pelagics.
There have also been some wahoo feeding in the blue water, and they’re biting both ballyhoo and high-speed lures pulled at 12-15 knots.
Jim, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some action with sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish from the Ocracoke surf. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling most of the fish in the breakers.
Back in the sound, there’s been a decent speckled trout bite in sloughs along the back side of the island and in Teach’s Hole. Soft plastic baits and MirrOlures are fooling most of the specks.
Flounder are also feeding in the sound, where soft plastics or live and strip baits will get their attention.
Anglers are also hooking a few pompano inshore.
Offshore, trollers are still connecting with good numbers of dolphin while dragging ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen have been finding plenty of action with triggerfish around offshore wrecks.
