Hatteras – September 29, 2016
Blake, of Hatteras Jack, reports that small puppy drum are regularly being caught in the surf, and there have been some slot-sized drum caught as well from Pea Island south. Fishing has been a little slow on the surfside, but it’s getting ready to let loose as the finger mullet are starting to show up along the beaches. The bigger drum should be right behind them.
There has been a good showing of trout in the sound, and anglers are catching them mostly on soft plastics.
Fishing around Oregon Inlet has been good, too, with flounder, trout, and red drum all recently caught. Most of the catches have been landed on the backside of the inlet and sound from anglers who are wading into the water or kayak fishing.
Kristy Molinari, of Raleigh, with a 17 red drum that was caught on cut mullet in the surf while fishing during the Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there have been a good amount of puppy drum, sea mullet, small blues, croakers, and even pompano all along the beaches. While the pompano are still around for now, the water temperatures are dropping, so they should be heading out soon. Expect the blow toads to arrive soon.
Brad Stevens with a 6.5 lb. flounder caught while walking the beach. The fish was 23.5″ long with a 20.5″ girth. Photo courtsey of Tradewinds Tackle.
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers all along the beaches are catching bluefish, sea mullet, pompano, and puppy drum on shrimp and cut mullet. Anglers are also catching lots of puppy drum and speckled trout in the sound on shrimp and live bait, which can also be caught in the sound with a cast net.
Jeff Madre and Sandy Madre, of Elizabeth City, and Susan McClanahan and Percy Houchens, of Point Harbor, with pompano caught off the shores of Buxton. All of the fish were caught using sand fleas.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that it has been an unbelievable week for sails offshore, and vessels have been regularly coming back with a wide array of catches including wahoo, blackfin tuna, and dolphin.
There have also been lots of red drum inshore, and fishing vessels heading to the front side nearshore/inshore have been catching spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that schools of big drum have showed up consistently in the past few days in the sound, and there have also been a number of puppy drum in the 18” range that have been caught on both bait and artificials.
The speckled trout bite has been on and off, with days where a number of keepers have been reeled in, and then other days with mostly shorts.
The spanish mackerel are still hanging around and have been caught by trolling out front in the ocean. There has also been a recent 40 lb. cobia catch, with about 10 more being spotted in and around the inlets.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the fall meat fishing has been solid on recent trips, with steady catches of wahoos on the fast troll, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, and a few dolphin. Recent catches also include a 41 lb. citation wahoo and a blue marlin. The tuna and wahoo action is continuing to be strong, and the fall meat fishing for kings and possibly dolphin is getting ready to heat up.
Debbie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that there have been pompano, bluefish, and lots of sea mullet caught, as well as the occasional undersized drum (which have been running about 1/2-3/4” short). There was also a recent 42.5” red drum caught off the end of the pier a little after 9:00 p.m., and spanish mackerel have been spotted in recent days.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that there has been a recent big drum catch, as well as sea mullet, bluefish, and croaker. The waters have been stirred up from Hurricane Karl passing offshore, but they should start to calm down in the near future.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers along the Ocracoke Island beaches are catching bluefish, drum, and generally small flounder with a couple keepers here and there.
There have also been some bigger drum caught back behind the island in the sound, as well as a couple of citation flounder and speckled trout.
Offshore, the wahoo bite continues to be strong, and there have also been a couple of blackfin tuna caught.
