Hatteras/Ocracoke – Sep 13, 2018
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf fishing has been good for spanish and bluefish now that the water has cleaned up. Casting glass minnow jigs to the schools has been working well early in the mornings.
Good-sized pompano are in the suds and will hit Carolina-rigged sand fleas.
Anglers fishing bottom rigs with shrimp are landing sea mullet.
Flounder are in the nearshore drop-offs and are biting Gulp baits.
Soundside anglers are finding some speckled trout and puppy drum around the oyster beds.
Nearshore areas around the inlet are producing large numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish for trolling anglers. A few schools of false albacore are mixed in and also chasing the schools of bait.
Large cut baits are catching some citation drum in the inlet.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that pompano and sea mullet have been feeding well along the bottom.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs have been hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that pompano and sea mullet have been actively feeding tight to the surf. Bottom rigs with shrimp have worked well in catching both species.
With all the bait around, bluefish and spanish have been the “hot” bite this week. Casting jigs around the edges of schools are producing some great action off the beach.
Capt. Travis Patsell, from Smith Mountain Lake, VA, pulled this 9 lb. sheepshead from Oregon Inlet while fishing with sandfleas and blue crab.
Toby, of Avon Pier, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been strong near the end of the pier for anglers using Stingsilvers and Gotcha plugs.
Bluefish have been feeding on bait schooled up around the pier, and they are hitting the same casting jigs.
Sea mullet and spot are being caught on shrimp fished on the bottom.
No king mackerel were reported this week, but clear water has anglers expecting fish any day.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel have been schooled up just off the beach. Casting spoons and Seastriker jigs have worked well for generating reaction bites.
Some larger pompano are being caught on sand fleas and shrimp in the suds.
Keeper flounder have been reported in good numbers. Soft plastics on jig heads are a favorite setup for these fish.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that some large wahoo are being caught, and anglers are also finding sailfish and white marlin releases out near the break.
Dolphin fishing has really picked up, with good numbers of both gaffer and bailer fish being landed.
Some fat blackfins are mixed in with the dolphin.
Bottom fishing has been steady with large groupers, beeliners, and triggerfish being caught around the wrecks.
Bottom fishing near the inlet is producing some citation red drum (to 49”) on Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Some large cobia (to 57 lbs.) have been caught while sight fishing.
False albacore, blues, and spanish mackerel are being landed while both trolling and casting to feeding schools.
In the sound, flounder and red drum are pushed up onto the flats and feeding on Carolina-rigged baits.
Anglers fishing the surf are reporting large numbers of spanish and blues biting on top, while bottom fishing on the beachfront is producing sea mullet, flounder, and pompano.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that bluefish are being caught while trolling just off the beaches. When anglers see the fish schooled up and feeding on top, casting jigs at the edges of the schools has produced lots of action.
Spanish mackerel are schooled up side by side with the blues.
False albacore are being caught by sight-casting glass minnow jigs (and throwing flies) at feeding schools.
The trout bite inshore has been a little slow, but popping corks with soft plastics are still producing some fish.
Red drum have been biting well inshore on Hopkins spoons and soft plastics. Working the edges of oyster beds has been a good place to start looking for fish.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin bite has been great, with limits or near limits of fish being caught.
Good-sized blackfin tuna and a few bonita have been mixed in.
Blue and white marlin have been biting well around breaks offshore. Some very large blues (in the 600 lb. range) are being hooked.
Bill, of Predator Sportfishing, reports that mahi have been biting very well, and near limits have been commonplace as of late.
Blackfin and even a stray yellowfin tuna or two are mixed in with the mahi.
Some large, citation-sized wahoo are being caught around the break.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing is awesome right now, with limits of gaffer and bailer fish being caught.
Billfish are being raised in the spread, and some sailfish are being tempted to take skirted baits.
Some large grouper are holding in the live bottom areas, and triggerfish have been schooling up around the wrecks.
Al, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing has been excellent with all the bait balls in the area.
A good mix of tailor bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding on all the bait, and casting glass minnow jigs or Stingsilvers at the fish has worked well.
Puppy drum have been feeding on cut baits on a Carolina rig.
Anytime you have cut bait in the summer, sharks are a possibility, with a few 4-6 footers caught this past week.
Sea mullet and pompano are being hooked on bottom rigs with shrimp or sand fleas.
Inshore anglers are finding some citation drum while bait fishing at night in the sound.
Gray trout and flounder are being caught while bottom fishing around ledges.
