Hatteras/Ocracoke – May 2022
Ian, of Hatteras Jack, reports that some trophy-sized red drum are being landed by anglers fishing the Point in the evenings.
Puppy drum are being caught just about everywhere along the beaches and near inlets.
Better numbers of black drum have been mixed in with the reds, and bluefish and sea mullet round out the surf fishing action.
Anglers fishing around Oregon Inlet have been seeing a really good speckled trout bite in the surf. Fishing Z-Man, Gulp, or Bass Assassin soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads have produced most of the bites.
Capt. John Berquist, of Drumbeat Charters, hooked this red drum on cut mullet while surf fishing in Ocracoke.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that red drum fishing has been excellent in the surf on Hatteras Island beaches from ramp 34 to 55. The sizes have varied from puppies to over-slot reds (in the 31” range), and they’re mostly feeding on cut mullet.
Down at the Point, anglers are catching trophy-class red drum and big sharks.
Baits rigged on smaller bottom rig setups are catching sea mullet and scattered pufferfish.
Nearshore anglers have been finding schools of the citation-class red drum off the beaches and around Hatteras Inlet.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are looking forward to spring fishing with water temperatures now getting into the 62-63 degree range. As the season kicks off, bottom fishing will be most productive. A mix of sea mullet and blowtoads will be caught on cut shrimp and some of the smaller bait offerings.
Puppy drum action has been strong on Hatteras Island, and this bite should continue through May as they work their way up through the surf.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that bottom fishing in the surf has been good in the areas from ramp 38 to 48. A mixed bag of pufferfish, sea mullet, and black drum are also biting, and they have all been hitting the smaller cut baits.
Puppy drum are just about everywhere up and down the island, as well as around the inlet.
Point anglers have been hooking scattered citation-class reds, puppy drum, and a lot of large sharks.
Sound-side anglers have started catching some large speckled trout (to 5+ lbs.) as water temperatures warm up and the inshore fishing comes alive.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that spring offshore fishing has started picking up with more anglers able to get out of the inlet. Blackfin tuna action has been fair on these first few trips.
King mackerel are around in pretty good numbers in the same areas as the tuna.
False albacore are also mixed in with the trolling action.
Randy Bayne, of Frank & Fran’s Bait & Tackle, caught this 30″ puppy drum on fresh mullet from beach access ramp 43 in Buxton.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that red drum fishing in Hatteras Inlet has been “off the hook.” Cut baits fished along the edges of sandbars and shoals has been producing most of the strikes.
Good numbers of ribbonfish are schooled up right outside the inlet. Anglers have been having success vertical jigging Stingsilvers tipped with pieces of squid.
The mainland river systems off the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds are still producing plenty of striped bass as these fish continue their strong spawning bite. Heavier 1/2 oz. jig heads rigged with white- or chartreuse-colored Z-Man StreakZ have been a top producing setup.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the first trips of the year have seen some pretty good action.
Large, citation-class wahoo (to 46+ lbs.) are still in the area.
Tuna fishing has been good, with a mix of large blackfin tuna and scattered yellowfin.
A few dolphin are already moving into the area. As it moves closer to summer, this bite only picks up as fish migrate into the area.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that large blackfin tuna and scattered yellowfin have shown up for the first few trips of the season.
Wahoo are also in the mix, with some large fish still around from their late winter/spring peak.
The gaffer-sized dolphin will start to show up by the end of the month.
Big blue marlin will be moving in around this same time period. Now that the inlet is finally open, there will be better reports with more anglers able to access the offshore waters.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that there have been lots of large red drum being caught on the beaches. Smaller puppy drum are also in the mix, with both being caught on fresh cut baits.
The smaller, tailor-sized bluefish have also started to move into the area. With water temperatures rising on the beach, more schools will arrive alongside all the bait starting to move in.
Bottom fishing has been producing good-sized sea mullet.
Some anglers finding a break in the winds have been catching black sea bass and red drum while bottom fishing nearshore.
