Hatteras – July 21, 2016
Mike, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are still regularly catching speckled trout in the sound by using bigger soft plastics and drifting them over grass flats.
Fishermen around the inlet are catching sheepshead along the Bonner Bridge pilings.
Along the beach fronts, flounder are being caught on soft plastics on lead heads by anglers who are just letting the line dance around in the surf. There have also been sea mullet and pompano caught all along the beaches, and a recent 80 lb. tarpon was caught off of Rodanthe Pier. The same day the tarpon was caught, a total of 14 tarpons were spotted in the water.
Stephenie, of northern Virginia, with a 58 red drum she caught while fishing with Capt. Aaron Aaron of Tightline Charters out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there have been a lot of sea mullet caught all along the Hatteras Island beaches, as well as some nice-sized pompano, spots, and croakers. There have also been spanish mackerel and small bluefish catches on Stingsilvers.
Curt Hudson, of Wilmington, with a 39 lb. mahi he caught on a naked dink bait ballyhoo in 70 fathoms. He was fishing on the charter boat Bite Me out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are catching bluefish, pompano, sea mullet, and a few red drum along the beaches. The bite seems to be better, though, in the Frisco and Hatteras Village areas. Anglers up and down the beach are having the best luck with cut mullet and shrimp.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the offshore fishing is picking back up, with many mahi caught recently. Wahoo have also shown up in big numbers, and there have been reports of blue marlins, white marlins, and sailfish.
Anglers that have been bottom fishing are reporting grouper, tilefish, and triggerfish.
Inshore, anglers are still reeling in cobia in the 50-55 lb. range, as well as drum of all sizes from small to citation catches.
The surf fishing is a little slower, but anglers are reeling in pompano, sea mullet, and bluefish. At daybreak and sunset, fishermen are catching spanish mackerel right off of ORV Ramp 55 in Hatteras Village on metal lures.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that big drum have schooled up in the Pamlico Sound in great numbers, resulting in many recent citation fish caught in the 50” range or more.
There have also been a fair number of speckled trout caught and solid puppy drum fishing just about every day. A few flounder have also shown up in the sound waters, and there have been lots of bluefish in and around the inlet.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there have been a mess of dolphin, including many gaffers (and a recent 38.7 lb. citation fish).
Offshore bottom fishermen have landed tilefish and grouper, and anglers that are trolling have reported a few wahoo and sailfish.
Leslie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers have been regularly catching spanish mackerel, croaker, bluefish, and sea mullet. There have also been some recent drum caught in the 6 lb. range, as well as big king mackerel, tarpon, barracuda, and a few small dolphin.
The mahi made an appearance during a few days when the waters were exceptionally warm.
Heather, of Avon Pier, reports that there were three recent dolphin caught off pier, one king mackerel, and a tarpon. The mahi were caught on a crystal clear day and were spotted (as well as a bunch of tarpon) all along the end of the pier. Two of the mahi were caught on Gotcha plugs, and one was caught on a pin rig with live bait.
Anglers have also been consistently catching spanish mackerel and bluefish (especially when the water is clear), as well as spot, croaker, and sea mullet.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers all along the Ocracoke Island beaches are catching bluefish, sea mullet, scattered drum, and a few small pompano. The big drum and pompano are being caught off of boats in the sound, and anglers are also catching a few flounder.
The speckled trout fishing has been better than usual, most likely due to heavy rains along the mainland, and there have been a few gray trout caught as well.
King mackerel are being hooked right off the beach on Clarkspoons.
The biggest catches are found offshore, where anglers are regularly reeling in marlin and sailfish, and there have been consistent scattered bottom fish caught as well.
