Hatteras – April 26, 2018
Becky, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are having good luck finding puppy drum. Fishing a Carolina rig with a piece of cut mullet has been the best producing setup. The drum are being found from the Frisco beaches up through Avon.
A few citation red drum have been caught around Cape Point at night. When fishing the Point, using 6 oz. of weight or more will help in keeping bait on the bottom.
A lot of pufferfish are being caught just off the shore with double loop bottom rigs using shrimp as bait. Some good-sized whiting are mixed in as well.
Some gray trout are being caught in Rodanthe, with one angler reporting a 24” fish.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that sea mullet, croakers, and some spot have been biting well for anglers bottom fishing. Using double loop bottom rigs with bloodworms for bait has produced plenty of bites.
A few undersized flounder are being caught as well, and they’ve preferred shrimp as their bait of choice.
Puppy drum and “tailor” bluefish have been landed using Carolina rigs with a piece of cut mullet on days when the water is clear.
Riley Mills with a 14.3 lb. bluefish that inhaled a topwater plug in the surf near Ocracoke.
Stephanie, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are still finding good numbers of puppy drum around the Point and Hatteras Inlet. There are a few citation fish being caught around the Point at night. Carolina-rigged cut baits are producing most of the bites.
More bluefish are being reported recently, with some larger fish (22-29”) mixed in. The bluefish are feeding on bottom rigs with cut mullet.
Blow toad fishing has picked up a lot, and good numbers of these fish are being caught by anglers bottom fishing a double loop bottom rig with bloodworms.
Kelly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that there has been a good drum run at Cape Point. Multiple citation fish and good numbers of puppy drum are being caught by anglers using cut mullet. Fishing the sound side behind the Coast Guard station has produced some puppy drum for anglers looking to have the wind at their backs for a change.
Not many bluefish have been caught this week, but with the warming water, anglers should anticipate seeing more around.
Blow toads are being caught around Ramp 48 and Ramp 49 on smaller pieces of cut shrimp and mullet.
JAM, at Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite has been great. Boats are coming back with their limits, and they are good-sized fish (in the 35-40 lb. range). Trolling Sea Witches with ballyhoo has been the top producing method.
A bunch of citation blackfin tuna (many in the 28 lb. range) are being caught mixed in with the yellowfins. On days when the bite is red hot, anglers are catching blackfins on vertical jigs such as the Williamson Abyss in blue/pink.
A few wahoo are in the area hitting skirted ballyhoo on the troll.
Nearshore anglers are finding good numbers of black sea bass and triggerfish on the local wrecks while bottom fishing with cut squid and cigar minnows.
Some schools of “chopper” bluefish (up to 30”) have been hanging just off the beach.
Hatteras Island beaches have been producing good numbers of blow toads and sea mullet. Both are feeding well on shrimp fished on bottom rigs. Black drum are being reported by the same anglers.
Red drum have continued to show for surf anglers around the Point and inlet. Carolina rigs with large chunks of cut mullet have produced well.
Durand Beasley, from Manteo, NC, with a bull red drum landed near Hatteras.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite is awesome. Trolling skirted ballyhoo has landed anglers more than a few 40+ lb. fish.
There are citation-sized blackfin tuna in the 20-30 lb. range feeding well alongside the yellowfins.
Only a few dolphin are being found in the mix, but the next couple weeks may see better numbers as they pass by on their spring run.
Wahoo are still feeding in the Gulf, and the fish that are caught are weighing around 40 lbs.
Bill, of Predator Sportfishing, reports that great numbers of blackfin tuna are being caught, with 3-5 fish per trip being citation-sized.
The yellowfin tuna bite has been hot, and fish are hitting trolled Sea Witches rigged with ballyhoo. A pink/white skirt has really worked well for the tuna on the days with full sun.
A couple of wahoo have been caught hitting the same rigged baits.
Dolphin are being seen in better numbers, and the next couple weeks should really flip the switch on the bite. Trolling ballyhoo on colorful “fiesta” or blue/white skirts do well for the mahi.
There are some blue marlin around that have smacked lines, and a few releases have been reported.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that the tuna bite has been great. Strong numbers of yellowfins and blackfins are being caught. These are not the small, summertime fish either, with the blackfins weighing between 20-30 lbs. and the yellowfins going 40+ lbs.
Some scattered mahi are being caught, but not enough to start focusing on, and wahoo are in the mix as well.
Nearshore anglers are loading up on boxes of black sea bass when the winds keep boats in close to the beach. With the opening of grouper and tilefish on May 1, expect to see good numbers of them brought in on targeted trips.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that citation red drum have had anglers fishing hard the last couple weeks. Fishing the Point and Buxton beaches with Carolina rigs and cut bait are producing these 42+” fish.
A few long, skinny bluefish (30-36”) have been caught around the Point as well, and they are feeding on cut mullet.
Fishing in the “wash” of the surf with double loop bottom rigs and shrimp has been producing good numbers of blow toads and sea mullet.
