Hatteras – August 13, 2015
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are connecting with red drum and flounder around the Outer Banks’ inlets and in the sound nearby. Mullet are starting to run in the sound and are an excellent bait for both fish, but anglers are also hooking up on a variety of soft plastic baits. Popping cork rigs have been particularly effective in the sound recently.
Surf casters continue to primarily hook panfish like sea mullet, spot, and croaker. Shrimp and Fish Bites baits are fooling most of both.
Ryan White, of Hatteras Jack, with an over-slot red drum that bit a Z-Man ShrimpZ under a popping cork while he was fishing near Oregon Inlet.
Steve, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot, croaker, sea mullet, and pompano while bottom fishing in the local surf. Shrimp are fooling most of the fish.
Anglers fishing the sound from boats have been hooking slot to citation-sized red drum.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf casters are hooking primarily bottomfish like spot, croaker, and sea mullet around Avon. Some pompano have been mixed in at the beaches to the south. Shrimp and Fish Bites baits are drawing bites from the panfish.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel have been falling for metal casting jigs when the water’s clean.
Anglers fishing the sound are connecting with a few puppy drum, speckled trout, and flounder while casting both baits and lures.
Maynard Danger Caranan with a 3 lb. flounder he hooked on shrimp while fishing near some riprap at Teach’s Lair Marina.
Bev, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers working metal jigs like Shore Lure Glass Minnows from the beach are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Sea mullet are feeding in the surf and biting bloodworms and shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for baits and soft plastics in the surf and Hatteras Inlet.
Anglers fishing the sound are connecting with red drum, bluefish, and speckled trout. Most of the action has been on cut and live baits.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet, pompano, croaker, and other panfish while casting baits from Hatteras Island’s southern beaches. Some bluefish, puppy drum, and flounder have been mixed in around Hatteras Inlet. The smaller fish in the surf are biting shrimp and sand fleas, with cut baits and some artificials fooling the larger bluefish, puppies, and flounder.
Inshore boaters are still hooking big numbers of red drum (from slot to citation sizes). The reds are biting cut baits along with a variety of artificial lures like spoons and bucktail jigs.
Offshore trollers are hooking solid numbers of blackfin tuna, and they continue to connect with big numbers of dolphin. Some wahoo are still mixed in. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with solid catches of tasty vermillion snapper, sea bass, triggerfish, and more.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the offshore fleet is still seeing excellent catches of dolphin. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in with the ‘phins, and all are falling for ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Trollers working closer to the beach are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish while pulling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Anglers fishing inshore continue to connect with some citation-class red drum.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that dolphin are making up the lion’s share of the meatfish action for boats trolling offshore. They’re falling for trolled baits and lures and smaller baits on bailing gear.
Billfish are still feeding offshore and taking an interest in boats’ spreads (as a sailfish released last week attests).
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of dolphin while fishing offshore of Hatteras Inlet. Some are biting ballyhoo and lures while boats are trolling, but the largest numbers are taking an interest in smaller cut baits pitched to schools of fish near the boat on lighter tackle.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers fishing the sound have been catching and releasing some citation-class red drum in the sound at night. Cut baits are fooling most of the fish.
Surf casters are hooking some puppy drum and pompano on shrimp and sand fleas.
