Hatteras – October 23, 2014
Bob Tenbusch, of Kill Devil Hills, and George Cecil, of Manteo, with a pair of citation-class red drum they caught and released while fishing cut baits from the end of Jennette’s Pier.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent red drum action from the local piers (with good numbers of citation 40”+ fish). Most are falling for large cut baits.
The puppy drum bite has been solid for surf anglers casting shrimp and cut baits around the Tri-Villages as well.
Flounder are feeding heavily around Oregon Inlet and pouncing on soft plastics and live and strip baits that anglers are working along the bottom.
Dolly, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that anglers have been hooking solid numbers of spot and some sea mullet while bottom fishing from the local beachfront. Some bluefish, puppy drum, flounder, and undersized gray trout and black drum are mixed in, and all are falling for shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits.
Large red drum are also looking for meals just off the beachfront, and anglers have released the big reds from the beach at Pea Island and the end of the pier over the past week.
Kelly, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent puppy drum action around the pier in the early morning and evening hours. Most are falling for cut mullet right around the breakers.
Some sea mullet, spot, black drum, and pompano are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers are also connecting with undersized and keeper flounder while soaking live and strip baits off the pier.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there’s been some excellent fall action for local surf casters recently, with puppy drum, bluefish, and flounder taking an interest in finger mullet and cut baits that anglers are tossing into the surf.
Panfish like spot, sea mullet, croaker, pompano, and more are also looking for meals in the breakers and biting bloodworms and shrimp. Good numbers of pufferfish have been mixed in for many anglers.
Some large red drum (30-45”+) are feeding along the beachfront as well and biting large cut baits on fishfinder rigs.
Linda Mudaro with a piar of flounder she and her husband hooked behind Portsmouth Island on live finger mullet.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers have been releasing some citation-class red drum while casting cut baits at Cape Point. Plenty of bluefish have been mixed in from the point to Hatteras Inlet.
Anglers fishing the inlet have also been connecting with some solid flounder (to 5 lbs.) recently on Gulps and live baits.
Spot, croaker, sea mullet, and other panfish are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on small hooks from the beachfront.
And anglers fishing the sound are hooking good numbers of large gray trout.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are connecting with black drum, pompano, sea mullet, puppy drum, and bluefish from Hatteras Island’s southern beachfront. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are fooling most of the fish. Some larger red drum have been caught and released by anglers soaking big cut baits at Cape Point in recent weeks as well.
Inshore boaters are still seeing plenty of action with puppy drum while fishing bait and working lures like gold spoons in Pamlico Sound. Gray trout and bluefish have been in the mix on many days as well.
The Hatteras Inlet offshore fleet is still seeing plenty of dolphin (many limit catches early in the week), and king mackerel are making a strong showing as well (also with some limits). Wahoo and blackfin tuna are in the mix, too, and all the predators are biting naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing offshore has been producing fast action with tilefish, triggerfish, and other tasty denizens of the deep.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of puppy drum in the Hatteras surf, with shrimp and cut baits producing most of the action.
Inshore boaters continue to see big action with puppy drum along with plenty of speckled trout. Both are falling for artificials like spoons and soft plastics.
The offshore fleet continues to see action with wahoo (some citation 40+ pounders) and dolphin, primarily while trolling skirted ballyhoo.
Anglers bottom fishing offshore are hooking big numbers of triggerfish and a mixed bag of other species.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the offshore action remains hot off Hatteras Inlet. Dolphin are still around in solid numbers, particularly for boats who find floating objects offshore that they congregate around. Most are smaller bailers and taking chunks of squid and cut baits that anglers drift back around the floats.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are also still on the feed off the inlet (with citation-class fish), and anglers have been adding solid numbers of both of the speedy predators to the fish box recently.
Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling the offshore gamefish.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of red drum off the Ocracoke beachfront (ranging from pups to citation 40”+ fish). Shrimp and cut baits are fooling the smaller fish, with larger cut baits the way to go for the big bulls. Bluefish and sea mullet have also been feeding in the surf and falling for the same baits.
