Hatteras/Ocracoke – November 14, 2019
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers have been seeing an epic sea mullet bite in the Rodanthe area, with many citation-class fished being weighed (up to 3 lbs.). Spot and croaker are mixed in for those fishing bottom rigs with smaller baits.
Bluefish are feeding on bait pushing out of the inlets into the surf zone. Anglers are having success both casting glass minnow style jigs and fishing fresh cut mullet. Slot-sized red drum are mixed in the counts for those fishing cut baits.
Flounder are also being found as they push out of the inlets, and they’re hitting cut baits and soft plastics.
Speckled trout fishing continues to be strong in the sounds, with soft plastics fished under corks being the most productive setup.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that the sea mullet bite has been red hot for anglers fishing shrimp, bloodworms, and Fishbites strips.
Mixed in the bottom fishing action are spot, blow toads, pompano, and flounder.
Some good-sized black drum (up to 3 lbs.) are being caught on baits fished close to the pilings.
Carolina-rigged cut mullet has been producing puppy drum (up to 26”) and scattered bluefish.
When spotted feeding on the surface, bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs, and anglers off the end have landed some citation-class red drum (up to 46”).
Scott and Robert with a few of the wahoo and a blackfin they caught while fishing with Capt. Jeremy Hicks of Calypso Sportfishing. The largest wahoo weighed 58 lbs.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers fishing the surf in Rodanthe have had a lot of success in landing bluefish and speckled trout. Both species have been hitting bait fished on bottom rigs, with some early morning anglers doing well with soft plastic swim baits.
Around Avon, anglers are catching pompano, black drum, and blow toads. Fresh shrimp and sand fleas are the top producing baits.
Red drum have been scattered along the Hatteras Island beaches, from under-slot reds on the beach to some citation-class fish (up to 48”) being caught off Avon and Rodanthe piers.
Sea mullet fishing has been great in the area, with fish being caught on shrimp, sand fleas, and Fishbites strips. Though the bite seems to be everywhere, anglers have been adamant about ramp 34 being a hot spot.
Sound-side, the speckled trout and puppy drum bite is steady. Anglers are wading and kayaking to the edges of channels, and then working soft plastics with much success.
Kristen, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing is seeing good numbers of sea mullet, pompano, spot, and pufferfish all coming over the rails on bottom rigs.
A few good-sized black drum are mixed in, with many coming form closer to the surf zone.
The red drum bite has been hit or miss, with some days seeing really good numbers of puppy drum, then the next seeing only a few throughout the day.
Citation-class red drum are on the same pattern. Some days are slow, and then the next day anglers see a blitz of fish (up to 50”).
Bluefish are feeding on the schools of mullet running off the beach, and anglers are getting strikes while casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bluefish and some speckled trout are being caught from deeper holes in the surf.
Bottom rigs tipped with shrimp and sand fleas have been producing pompano, sea mullet, and black drum.
Speckled trout are biting well in deeper channels throughout the sound. MirrOlures and soft plastics are both being successful when worked over these inshore ledges.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that surf anglers are landing large pompano, blow toads, black drum, and plenty of small sea mullet while fishing bottom rigs.
Citation-class red drum are running out at the Point, with some nights anglers reporting well into double digits of fish being caught with large fish-finder rigs and mullet.
Offshore trips have been catching good numbers of citation wahoo and mixed blackfin tuna.
Some large king mackerel are in the counts, too, and they’re hitting the same trolled ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing has been producing plenty of triggerfish.
Inshore anglers are having much success with speckled trout near grass banks and along the edges of the deeper channels. Wading and kayaking to these areas has been the preferred method of local anglers.
Puppy drum are mixed in these same areas, and they’re preferring baits worked along the bottom.
Bluefish are holding in the channels. The blues are hitting soft plastics, live baits, and suspending twitchbaits.
Sheepshead are still around for anglers fishing baits around sea walls, docks, and similar structure.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that there has been great speckled trout fishing going on behind Hatteras Island. Anglers are having success casting Z-Man Trout Tricks paired on 1/4 oz. jig heads. Popular colors have been the fried chicken and new penny, with chartreuse tails also seeming to be most effective.
Good numbers of short puppy drum (up to 16”) are around and hitting Carolina-rigged cut and live baits on the flats.
Bluefish and flounder are mixed in the daily counts, and they’re hitting the same lures targeting trout.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that wahoo fishing has been good for anglers pulling skirted baits out in the Stream, with a few citation-sized fish mixed in.
Blackfin and scattered yellowfin tuna are showing up in the counts, and anglers anticipate this bite only getting better over the next few weeks.
Mahi are still scattered offshore, and some trips may find none, with the next trip stumbling into a large school and landing close to double digits.
Large king mackerel and sailfish are also coming into the spreads.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that there has been good wahoo fishing while pulling skirted and naked ballyhoo.
Blackfin, a few mahi, and some sailfish are mixed in around the break.
Large king mackerel (up to 65 lbs.) are starting to show. They’re hitting live pogies.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that king mackerel fishing has picked up around Hatteras. Large fish (up to 50+ lbs.) are hitting slow-trolled live pogies around ledges and hard bottoms.
Blackfins and yellowfins are scattered in the counts, and they’re hitting skirted ballyhoo.
Anglers are landing some mahi as well, with the numbers a surprise this late in the season.
