Hatteras – August 17, 2017
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the surf has produced spanish, bluefish, pompano, sea mullet, and the occasional red drum and flounder. Plugging has worked best for the bluefish and spanish, while cut baits and fresh shrimp has been the ticket for the rest of the species.
Targeting sheepshead, black drum, and flounder around the inlets and bridges has been producing some steady action. Dropping live fiddler crabs for the black drum and sheepshead has worked best, while the flounder have preferred live finger mullet.
In the sound, anglers have found speckled trout and redfish while fishing soft plastics under popping corks. Topwater plugs and tossing the fly rod has also provided good action inshore when fishing in the marsh.
Rick, Mike, and Joe, of Virginia, caught these redfish tossing topwater plugs on a shallow flat. They were fishing with Capt. Aaron Aaron of Tightline Charters.
Debbie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that those fishing from the pier have found some action with spot, croaker, pompano, and bluefish. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have all worked well.
A few cobia have been spotted from the pier, but none have been landed.
Tim, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers walking the beach or fishing from the pier early in the morning are connecting with plenty of spanish and bluefish. Tossing Stingsilvers and Gotcha plugs have been the ticket. Those fishing the bottom in the surf are landing pompano, sea mullet, croaker, and spot. Most fish have been landed on sand fleas and blood worms.
In the sound, the speckled trout bite has picked up. Most anglers have had luck throwing topwater plugs and soft plastics in the marsh. Live shrimp under a float rig has produced limits of trout as well.
Puppy drum are holding in some of the same areas and on the grass flats. Live minnows or cut mullet on Carolina rigs has been the best way to target the reds. Most fish have been between 20-24”.
Harry, of Avon Pier, reports that sea mullet, pompano, croaker, and some small trout have been feeding on the bottom near the pier. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have been the best bet for landing them.
Those plugging from the pier with Stingsilvers and Gotcha plugs have found a solid spanish and bluefish bite in the early morning and late evening hours.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish have been feeding well near the pier. Those fishing fresh shrimp or sand fleas are having the most success. In the evening time, some anglers are landing large red drum (that have pushed the 42” mark).
In the sound, anglers targeting speckled trout are finding action by throwing Gulp plastics and topwater plugs. Targeting marsh lines and points has been the best bet. Those using live shrimp under a float rig have also found limits of specs.
Flounder gigging has started to pick up in the sound.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair, reports that the wahoo bite has picked up and many boats are having double digit days. Trolling ballyhoo has been the ticket to landing fish, with some pushing the 70 lb. mark.
Nearshore fishing has stayed consistent with spanish. Most fish have been holding just off the beach and have hit best while trolling Clarkspoons.
Drum fishing has heated up inshore. Reds anywhere from 18” all the way to 40 lbs. are being landed. Fishing fresh cut mullet on a Carolina rig is the best way to land the drum, especially over-slot fish. Some of the slot-sized fish are being landed on soft plastics as well.
Trout fishing has been hot, and both speckled trout and gray trout have been landed. The Z-Man Trout Trick rigged on a Blue Water Candy jig head has been the ticket to landing limits of trout. A few flounder have been mixed in the same areas, and they’ve been willing to take live minnows or plastics. Some of the trout have pushed the 5 lb. mark.
Surf fishing has slowed down, but anglers sticking it out are landing a few bluefish, sea mullet, and pompano.
Robert Warren, of Murfreesboro, with a 44” red drum caught on cut mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Greg Voliva of Four Seasons Guide Service.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that drum fishing has been excellent in the sound. Most fish are hitting gold spoons and soft plastics rigged on jig heads. The size of the reds while fishing on the grass flats has ranged from mid-slot to over-slot.
Flounder fishing has picked up in the sound. Those tossing soft plastics are hooking up with plenty of action over sandy bottom areas.
Near the inlet and the point, anglers have found plenty of spanish and bluefish feeding around bait pods. Tossing jigs and plugs has worked best when fishing around bait.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the wahoo bite has turned on, and trolling ballyhoo has produced some solid bites. Billfish action is still consistent in the area, with blue marlin and sailfish being the main targets.
Blackfin tuna, dolphin, and kings are also feeding well offshore.
Bill, of Predator Sport Fishing, reports that bailer and gaffer mahi have been feeding well offshore. Wahoo have also started to show up, and fishing big baits on wire has successfully landed good numbers of fish.
Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are still feeding well in the area. Pitching naked ballyhoo on mono leader has been the key to successful sailfish releases.
Yellowfin and blackfin tuna are producing steady action offshore. Anglers have also landed bigeye tuna, with some pushing the 200 lb. mark.
Jimmy, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf fishing has stayed consistent when fishing with fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms. Pompano, sea mullet, spot, and croaker have all been landed.
Those tossing Gotcha plugs have also landed bluefish in the early morning and late evening hours.
In the sound, anglers have started to target the big drum. Night fishing has produced best, and fresh cut mullet has been the bait of choice.
