Hatteras/Ocracoke – October 11, 2018
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the storm hasn’t slowed the bite on the island, and surf anglers are finding it easy to land a few fish.
Bluefish have been a mainstay in the area, and the schools have been within easy casting distance for anglers rigged with glass minnow jigs.
Shrimp fished on a bottom rig has been catching good numbers of sea mullet and spot in the sloughs between the breakers.
Pompano have been a bit tighter to the shore. Pieces of fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig have worked well, but sand fleas are an even better bait.
Some puppy drum have been caught on cut mullet.
Nearshore boats are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling.
Schools of over-slot and citation red drum are just off the beach, too, and anglers have been sight casting to these fish.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are finding sea mullet and croakers biting on shrimp.
There have been a lot of smaller bluefish caught throughout the middle section of the pier. Some fish are taking bottom rigs, while others are biting Gotcha plugs and glass minnow-imitation jigs.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that a large number of tailor bluefish have been running in the surf. Anglers are catching them on both cut baits on bottom rigs and by casting Stingsilvers to schools breaking the surface.
Bottom rigs with shrimp are catching sea mullet and pompano around some of the better drop-offs in the suds.
Soundside anglers are finding steady numbers of gray trout in some of the deeper channels, and fishing up on the flats is producing speckled trout and slot-sized puppy drum.
Bethany Alger, from Raleigh, with a 12 lb. 12 oz. citation sheepshead that was snagged below Bonner Bridge on a sand flea.
Toby, of Avon Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding on bait schools near the end of the pier. Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers have worked great when cast into the schools of feeding fish.
Anglers bottom fishing are catching good numbers of croakers and sea mullet, along with a few pompano.
Citation red drum are being caught off the end of the pier on large chunks of mullet on Carolina rigs.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bottom fishing hasn’t slowed down at all after the hurricane, with good numbers of spot, croaker, and sea mullet all being pulled in using cut shrimp.
Bluefish have been hooked on casting spoons as they work up and down the beach.
Some spanish mackerel have been caught closer to the point.
Jerry, of Teach’s Lair, reports that surf anglers have had some good action on Hatteras beaches since the storm.
Red drum (both slot-sized and over-slot) are being caught on Carolina-rigged mullet around the Point.
Bluefish have been caught up and down the beaches by casting glass minnow jigs to feeding schools.
On the bottom, sea mullet and pompano are taking fresh pieces of shrimp fished in the sloughs.
Some keeper flounder have been caught around these same drop-offs, but anglers have seen more catches while working soft plastics on lighter jig heads.
Inshore anglers are finding gray trout in the deeper areas of the sound and slot red drum on the flats.
Nearshore boats are hooking citation red drum (to 45”) on large cut baits around the inlet.
Offshore boats are still working on getting back to normal routines, but they anticipate finding mahi to be a main part of their daily catches.
Some reports of tuna have been trickling in as an intro to the fall season, and citation wahoo have been mixed into the daily counts as well.
Kathleen Hotte with a 22” trout caught while surf fishing in Nags Head.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that gray trout have been making a good showing in recent days and are feeding on cut baits in deep channels.
Speckled trout are being caught on the flats using Z-Man MinnowZ soft plastics on Meathog jig heads. This year, the electric chicken color has been outfishing the others by a good margin.
Slot and over-slot red drum have also been up on the grass flats, and they’re preferring soft plastics.
Nearshore, spanish mackerel and bluefish have been landed by trolling or sight-casting to feeding schools.
Other sight-casting action is being found off the beach with the citation red drum. Throwing 2 oz. Meathog bucktails and Z-Man soft plastic trailers has worked well when running into these schools of the big reds.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that large wahoo (to 48 lbs.) continue to feed well around the break.
A few sailfish have been released, and the influx of cleaner water shouldn’t hurt that trend.
A large blue marlin (450-500 lbs.) was released in the days after the storm, and it’s a good sign for anglers targeting them.
Yellowfin and blackfin tuna have made a showing, with a few 35-45 lb. fish being caught on skirted baits.
The mahi bite is still going on. Some days could produce a couple, and some days a box full. The mahi haven’t been consistent, but the stabilizing of the water could buck this trend.
A few barracuda and the occasional skipjack have been mixed into the counts.
Bill, of Predator Sportfishing, reports that the storm had the water a bit churned up for a bit, but now it has cleaned up and the fish are showing well again with this change.
Good numbers of bailer and gaffer mahi are being caught on most trips.
A few citation-sized wahoo are hitting skirted baits fished behind the planer around temperature breaks.
Some sailfish are falling for skirted baits out in the Stream.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing has been really good, with anglers seeing both gaffer and bailer-sized fish coming over the rails.
Citation-wahoo have continued to bite well through the storm. At least a couple of fish seem to come home on most trips.
Some tuna, both blackfin and yellowfin, have begun to show up. With the water cleaning up so nicely offshore, anglers should expect seeing the counts go up in the coming weeks.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that tailor bluefish have been all over the surf. Casting spoons and Stingsilvers is working great for these frenzied fish.
Bottom fishing in the surf is producing sea mullet and pompano.
