Hatteras – March 24, 2016
Blake, of Hatteras Jack, reports that blow toads are being caught throughout Hatteras Island from the northern beaches of Rodanthe all the way down to Hatteras Village. There’s also been scattered bluefish north of the Rodanthe Pier that have been falling for cut bait (mainly mullet or bunker) on bluefish rigs.
Anglers by the old Frisco Pier are also still getting puppy drum on grubs and shrimp, and fishermen throughout the island should start to see sea mullet showing up in larger numbers as the water temperatures get closer to 60 degrees.
Daphne Bennink caught this 45 red on a bottom rig with cut mullet. She was fishing the Ocracoke surf.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there have been a few puppy drum, small blues, blow toads, and sea mullet in the past week along Hatteras Island.
Though there has been been some activity in Avon, the majority of catches have been reported at Cape Point, South Beach, and points south. The main baits have been artificial bloodworms and shrimp, and as the temperatures begin to rebound, anglers should start to see the action picking back up.
Kevin DeBruhl, of Rocky Mount, caught this 47 red drum while fishing with Capt. John Ferra of Fish Tales Charters.
Anchored off Portsmouth Island using cut mullet
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that Cape Point and South Beach have been the spot for puppy drum, bluefish, sea mullet, and lots of blow toads, and anglers are mainly using shrimp and some menhaden for bait. As the colder, mid-March weather starts to warm up, anglers can expect these same catches to hang around—and increase in number—for the next couple of weeks.
The crew aboard the Fin Again, out of Hatteras, with their haul from an overnight trip. The catch included a bluefin, wahoo, beeliners, and triggerfish.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that the inshore fishing has been a little slow, but they are finding 19-22” puppy drum and a few bluefish back in the sound behind Hatteras Inlet. The sound water is starting to warm up (all the way to 65 degrees on one recent day), and the puppies and blues have been caught on the incoming tide as the warm water starts to flow in.
With warmer days ahead, soon anglers should be able to find some of the big drum, which are already making appearances off the Ocracoke Island beaches and off of Cape Point at night.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there have been some solid tuna catches, including both bluefin and yellowfin. There have also been some golden tilefish (that are fairly rare off of Hatteras) which have been found in 900’ of water on the bottom, as well as a mess of rose fish in the past month. In the next couple weeks, anglers can look forward to improved spring tuna fishing off the coast of Hatteras Village, which will start to really take off.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair, reports that there have been a lot of blow toads caught off the beaches, as well as a few puppy drum. There are also 18-22” bluefish in the 1.5 lb. to 2 lb. range being caught off both metal casting lures and bait.
The inshore fishing has been slow, but the offshore fishing has been phenomenal with a lot of blackfin catches, including a number in the citation range (25-30 lbs.) from jigging and trolling. There have been a substantial number of bluefin as well, especially up north, and bottom fishing has led to a lot of triggers.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers have been catching blow toads and a few bluefish off the Avon beaches, as well as puppy drum around the Point and Buxton jetties. Avon Pier will officially open for the season on April 15.
Terry, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that with water temperatures hovering around 54 or 55 degrees, the Avon beaches and all points south are seeing blow toads, sea mullets, and puppy drum. As the water warms up, expect to see these catches trickle north to Rodanthe Pier, just in time for its opening over Easter weekend.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that there have been some surprisingly big drum catches (fish up to 49”) off the Ocracoke Island beaches, which are being caught on cut bait (mainly fresh menhaden or frozen mullet). Puppy drum and bluefish are also being caught in big numbers, including some blues in the 2 lb. range. The puppies have been caught on both artificial lures and cut bait/shrimp.
The low 60s water temperatures have produced a good start to the year. With a couple gray trout, small mullets, and menhaden reported in the Pamlico Sound, it looks like the sound waters are warming up as well.
