Hatteras/Ocracoke – August 29, 2019
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that speckled trout fishing in the sound continues to be strong, with soft plastics on jig heads and under corks being the most productive. A few red drum are hitting the same soft plastics in the deeper channels.
Surf fishing has produced large pompano on sand fleas. Sea mullet are mixed in with the pompano, but better numbers of sea mullet are being caught with shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding on bait pods just past the breakers, but the piers seem to be catching better numbers.
Rielly Gallagher with a 45″ cobia that was tagged and released for NC state research. He was fishing with Capt. Joey VanDyke, of Fingeance Sportfishing.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing good numbers of sea mullet, spot, and pompano. Anglers have been having the most success (numbers and variety) with fresh shrimp. Bluefish are also hitting the bottom-rigged baits fished from just past the breakers out towards the end.
Spanish mackerel are being caught with Gotcha plugs in the morning and early evening hours.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been very good, with anglers casting Stingsilvers and similar glass minnow jigs to surface feeding schools. Getting on the beaches early or late in the day has been the most productive for the spanish.
Large sea mullet are being caught with bottom rigs tipped with sand fleas, shrimp, and bloodworms.
A few croakers and pompano are mixed in. They’re hitting the same baits on the bottom.
Bluefish are being caught while casting spoons and fishing cut mullet on Carolina rigs.
Sound-side anglers have been doing well when targeting speckled trout in deeper channels. Most fish are falling for soft plastics and shrimp-imitation lures.
A few puppy drum are mixed in in the same channels, as well as on the nearby flats.
Kristen, of Avon Pier, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good for anglers casting Gotcha plugs to schools breezing by the pier.
Sea mullet are being landed by shrimp fished on the standard two-hook bottom rigs.
Good-sized pompano are hitting Carolina-rigged sand fleas. Getting baits in deeper holes near the breakers has been key in getting bites from the pompano.
Brent Cash and Josh Beamer with a 375 lb. swordfish that fell for skirted squid 38 miles off of Ocracoke Island. They were fishing aboard the “Dream Girl” with Capt. Stevie Wilson.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that sea mullet and pompano are being caught with sand fleas and shrimp fished in deeper holes off the sand.
A few flounder are mixed in, with the larger fish hitting soft plastic baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being hooked by anglers casting glass minnow style jigs towards surface feeding fish. Getting on the beach early and before the crowds has proven effective in spotting the schools and having them not quickly spook.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore trips are finding double digit numbers of dolphin, with most coming off trolled ballyhoo. A few anglers are reporting bailing good fish from under debris and grass patties, but the warm water has the fish scattered.
Wahoo are hitting skirted baits and high-speed lures.
King mackerel are staged in areas around structure, and they’re hitting skirted dead baits.
Triggerfish, large black sea bass, and amberjacks are chewing on cut baits fished around bottom structure and ledges.
Nearshore trips have been finding bluefish and huge numbers of spanish mackerel just off the beach. Trolling spoons has been most productive, but some anglers have been casting jigs to tight-knit schools feeding on the surface.
Sound-side anglers are reporting a strong speckled trout bite around oyster beds and on the edges of the flats. A few puppy drum are in the same areas, and the reds are hitting soft plastics.
Surf anglers are catching large pompano and sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp and sand fleas.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers are finding limits of good-sized speckled trout (up to 4 lbs.) while casting soft plastics on popping cork rigs in the sound. Working areas around grass and oyster beds has proven the most successful.
Bluefish are in most deeper areas in the sound, from the inlet up to Wanchese. Casting jigs to feeding schools has been productive, but most fish are coming as by-catch to the anglers targeting trout.
Puppy drum are scattered along the flats, and they’re hitting soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that large wahoo are in the area, with a few boats picking them up while pulling high speed lures.
Mahi are around in good numbers, and they’re hitting skirted baits trolled along weed lines, and a few trips have found white marlin willing to take a ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing cut baits has produced tilefish and grouper.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that wahoo fishing has picked up, with anglers catching citation-class fish (up to 40 lbs.).
Blackfin tuna are mixed in, and they’re hitting the smaller skirted ballyhoo.
Mahi fishing has often offered up limits of fish while working baits around weed lines.
Trips fishing closer to the beach are catching limits of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing is producing limits while trolling skirted ballyhoo.
Large wahoo have begun to show in the area.
Blackfin tuna are scattered, but trips often are bringing a few back.
Huge false albacore are schooled up in the 10+ mile range. They’re hitting live and trolled baits.
Bottom fishing has produced citation-sized grouper.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching great numbers of pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and sand fleas. Good-sized sea mullet are mixed in and hitting the same bottom-rigged baits
Bluefish are being caught with casting jigs early and late, with cut baits being most productive through mid-day.
A few smaller flounder are being caught on shrimp and soft plastics worked in the deeper sloughs just off the sand.
Red drum (up to 34”) are hitting Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Sound-side fishing has speckled trout and spanish mackerel holding in deeper channels. Red drum fishing has included smaller puppy drum around oyster beds in the sound, as well as the over-slot fish around shoals further off the island.
