Hatteras/Ocracoke – July 2, 2020
JAM, of Hatteras Jack, reports that soundside fishing has been very good for speckled trout (up to 7 lbs.) from Rodanthe down through Salvo. Anglers are wading to grass flats and throwing popping corks and Z-Man or Gulp soft plastics. Light-weight jig heads have been working just as well, but either way it is the soft plastics with chartreuse tails that have been the most productive.
Puppy drum are also up on the shallows, with most bites coming off Carolina-rigged cut baits. A few flounder are mixed in for anglers fishing baits near the bottom.
Surf anglers are reporting a strong sea mullet bite and scattered bluefish in the 18-20” range.
Spanish mackerel are pushing into the surf zones, and they’re hitting glass minnow style jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been great for anglers out on the planks. A mix of sea mullet, croaker, spot, and black drum are feeding on bait shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught with casting jigs. Mornings have been best for spotting the feeding schools.
A few cobia were caught recently, and anglers anticipate seeing a few more fish as the weather settles.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that citation-sized sea mullet are hitting sand fleas and shrimp fished in the wash. Pompano are holding in the same deep holes just off the sand, with most reports coming from around Frisco.
Frisco area anglers are also landing spanish mackerel while sight casting glass minnow style jigs.
Red drum are hitting Carolina-rigged cut mullet fished from the Buxton jetties and just about anywhere up and down the beach. Bluefish are hitting bottom-rigged baits around Rodanthe.
Soundside fishing has been awesome this season, with large speckled trout (up to 31”) stealing the show. Puppy drum are also feeding on these same soundside flats, with cut baits being the most productive.
Sheepshead are holding tight to structure in the deeper holes of the sound. Fiddlers and sand fleas are the top baits when targeting the sheeps.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been finding good numbers of pompano and sea mullet on the beaches out front. Bottom rigs with shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the bites.
Bluefish are being caught with Carolina-rigged cut mullet and menhaden. A few are starting to strike casting jigs, and anglers look for this action to heat up with the water temperatures warming.
Soundside anglers have been catching speckled trout on soft plastics, with sizes ranging anywhere from 14” to 6.5 lbs.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that anglers found an epic tuna bite after the month’s gloomy weather. Good numbers of large yellowfins and mixed blackfins were active around current changes offshore. Gaffer mahi and white and blue marlin releases are also in the counts. The billfish are hitting the same skirted ballyhoo.
Nearshore trips loaded up on spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons. A few bonus cobia are still coming in, with action from both bottom fishing and sight casting.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that red drum fishing has been great in the sound. Slot-sized fish are pushed up onto the flats, with cut baits producing most of the hits. Speckled trout have been holding on the inshore ledges, and a mild winter really has been great for numbers of fish.
Cobia are still in the area, and though sight-casting has been tough with uncooperative weather, soaking bait continues to get action.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that mahi have been around in good numbers and holding on weedlines in the area. A few scattered blackfin are mixed in.
Some anglers looking for marlin have found blues (up to 300+ lbs.) and whites willing to crash the large bait offerings.
Pulling up on structure has been producing large tilefish and grouper.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that there have been good numbers of mahi holding on weedlines around the break. Blackfins, yellowfins, and scattered wahoo have been more structure oriented, with all attacking multiple colors of Sea Witch skirts rigged with ballyhoo.
Big blue marlin are out deep, where large Pelagic and similar lures rigged with large ballyhoo have been the top rigs. A few white marlin and sailfish are in the same range and jumping the ballyhoo filled spreads.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that a larger class of yellowfin tuna (up to 50+ lbs.) are hitting just about every presentation of baits, be it on top or off the stick. Some blackfin tuna are also in the mix and hitting the same skirted baits, as well as good numbers of gaffer and bailer mahi.
There have been quite a few billfish around as well. Sailfish and blue and white marlin all are hitting some of the larger baits rigged on big lures out deep.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been landing large pompano (up to 3 lbs.) while fishing baits in the deeper holes off the sand.
Cut baits have produced some good-sized red drum (up to 37”) all over the beaches. These drum seem to love the stirred up water.
Anglers fishing the sound have caught red drum while casting cut mullet from shore.
Nearshore trips have been reporting citation-class red drum from the inlets and along the beaches.
Offshore anglers have been returning with mahi, yellowfins, and blackfins. A large blue marlin (500+ lbs.) was also reported released this week.
