Hatteras – December 10, 2015
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are connecting with some puppy drum up and down the beach on Hatteras Island. They aren’t schooled up yet, but anglers are hopeful they’ll see the fish form into some large schools and provide consistent action through the winter as has happened in many previous years. The pups will bite shrimp and cut baits, but many are now falling for soft plastics and other artificials.
Speckled trout have been feeding around the jetties at Buxton and biting MirrOlures and a variety of soft plastic baits. Anglers should also be able to find some specks in beachfront sloughs along the island’s northern beaches.
Anglers fishing around Hatteras Inlet have been connecting with decent numbers of flounder and bluefish on cut baits and artificials.
Capt. Kenny Koci, mate Derek Nelson, and angler Neil Manning landed this 138 lb. pending state record white marlin along with a catch of yellow and blackfin tuna, wahoo, and king mackerel while trollling off Hatteras Inlet in November.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are seeing some puppy drum, flounder, and a few small bluefish along the Avon beachfront. Shrimp and cut mullet have been fooling most of the fish.
There’s been decent action with some fat sea mullet and a few more bluefish and puppy drum for anglers fishing around Hatteras.
A few small speckled trout have been in the mix, but anglers haven’t seen the cold weather necessary to kick the trout bite off yet this season.
Ryan White, of Advanced Fishing/Hatteras Jack, with a 48″ red drum he caught and released while fishing the Hatteras Island beach just south of Salvo in mid-November. The big drum fell for a chunk of mullet.
Chris, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to catch good numbers of fall sea mullet along the beach at Frisco. Bluefish, skates, and some scattered puppy drum have been mixed in, and all are falling for shrimp and cut baits. The pups aren’t schooled up yet, but anglers are hoping for a repeat of the previous winter’s bite, when schools of drum were taking artificial lures for much of the winter.
Teresa Bullard, of Wilmington, NC, with a fat flounder that bit a piece of mullet on a flounder rig while she was surf fishing near Ocracoke Island’s South Point.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish, sea mullet, and puffers while casting baits from Hatteras Island’s southern beaches at present. There’s also been some action with speckled trout in Frisco and Buxton along with a few puppy drum near Buxton. The action’s been a bit spotty, however, so anglers may need to do some searching before they can find hungry fish. A few flounder have been mixed in with the other surf species.
There were also some citation-class red drum caught and released from Avon Pier last week, but the structure is closed for the season.
Offshore boats are seeing decent action when they get out. Blackfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo are feeding in the warm water of the Gulf Stream, and boats are hooking all three on ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
There’s also been an excellent king mackerel bite on many days a bit closer to the beaches. Anglers are hooking the kings on live and strip baits.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that not many inshore boats have had charters recently, but anglers are still connecting with puppy drum and flounder around Hatteras Inlet, so the action isn’t over for the year. Soft plastics and cut baits are fooling the drum and flounder.
There’s been a pufferfish and sea mullet bite along the beach at Hatteras recently, along with some bluefish and puppy drum. Shrimp, squid, and cut baits are producing the majority of the action in the breakers. The water is still a bit on the warm side for the surf speckled trout action, but anglers may see a good bite develop once the water falls below 60 degrees.
The offshore charterboats have also been tied up for much of the last week, but it’s prime time for large blackfin tunas and anglers may quite possibly connect with some yellowfins as well.
The commercial fleet has had some excellent days king mackerel fishing recently, but the bite can be up-and-down.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers are connecting with some blackfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo while trolling offshore of Hatteras Inlet. Most of the pelagic predators are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches.
Some yellowfin tuna have been around during recent trips as well.
