Hatteras/Ocracoke – April 2024
Kurt, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are starting to see scattered red drum on the southern beaches from the Point all the way to Ocracoke. The sizes have varied from slots to the occasional citation.
Bottom fishing efforts from the sand on the rest of the island are producing black drum, sea mullet, blow toads, and some bluefish.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers will do best this time of year fishing smaller bottom rig setups and targeting pufferfish.
Moving further into April, look for puppy drum and (hopefully) some larger red drum to show up. The drum bite is dependent on warmer, stable weather patterns bringing these schools up around the Point.
Heather, of Frank & Fran’s, reports that anglers spending time out at the Point were finally rewarded with some of the first citation-class reds of the year (to 46”). The passing cold fronts will have this action a little unsteady in the coming weeks, but anglers anticipate an overall increase in activity as these fish continue to move into the area.
The pufferfish bite has been great for anglers up and down Hatteras Island. A favorite setup is Frank & Fran’s own “Sand Flea Imposter Rig” tipped with pink Fishbites bait strips.
The Avon area is still seeing good numbers of dogfish sharks and skates, and the Buxton area is starting to see black drum, puppy drum, and the first few bluefish showing up.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that anglers on the beaches are seeing conditions improve, including a really nice class of black drum being caught.
Smaller baits fished on bottom rigs are starting to produce better numbers of blow toads and sea mullet.
Puppy drum are scattered around, with water temperatures just needing the slightest uptick to see the drum truly move onto the beach.
Some of the first bluefish have shown up in both the sound and off the beach.
Dave White, of Nags Head, caught this red drum while fishing near Oregon Inlet using cut mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Butch, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that surf anglers are starting to see puppy drum and some black drum showing on the beaches, with action for both species only looking to pick up moving into April.
Any day now should be the arrival of sea mullet and better pufferfish numbers. Typically, behind those two species will be the first few bluefish of the season.
Anglers at the Point saw some big drum caught at the end of that run of SW winds. Local surf anglers hope to see more of that wind direction pattern in April, as it really pushes these big fish onto the beach (along with that warmer water).
Terry, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore anglers are expecting some nice catches of blackfin tuna when the winds settle, and depending on how quick water temperatures change, the area could see some of the larger springtime mahi caught by the end of April.
Inshore anglers are starting to see better numbers of red drum as these fish move into the sound.
Surf anglers will be looking for the big red drum bite out at the Point to show up any day, if these winds and better weather patterns can stay on the calmer side.
Chad Wood, of Greenville, NC, found this speckled trout in the waters of Dare County using a jigged soft plastic.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that Hatteras area anglers are starting to see the red drum action pick up as these fish move back into the area.
Speckled trout and the first few bluefish are also starting to mix into the sound fishing action. All three of the inshore target species are being caught with Z-Man MinnowZ rigged on lighter (1/4 oz.) jig heads.
Striped bass action has been solid on the western side of the sound as they stage up in the headwaters before running up into the rivers.
Anglers looking for some great fun on lightweight setups have also done really well targeting the annual shad migration.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers look forward to the offshore action kicking off in the coming weeks. Over April, the fleet typically sees some breaks in the wind to get outside the inlet to target wahoo and blackfin tuna. These early spring wahoo are usually a good class of fish and aggressive feeders. The challenge is to find the structures holding them.
By late April, the first few mahi could start showing up in the mix as they push into the area from the south.
Kerry Kcraget, of Chester, VA, reeled in this 27″ red drum from the surf in Kitty Hawk using finger mullet.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that bluefin tuna still remain the top species for offshore anglers that can find a weather window. It’s a great class of fish hanging out just short of the break.
Yellowfin tuna have been slow to arrive this year, with water temperatures still pretty low. Any day now, the area could see this flip and the spring bite will be on.
Blackfin tuna action is starting to pick up, and it only gets better as wind conditions settle and more trips are run offshore.
Jeremy, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers are starting to see red drum showing in better numbers up and down the beach. It has already been a good class of fish around (to 38”), and anglers hope conditions come together to see a run on some citation-class reds.
Some bigger sharks are mixed in with the drum bite.
Bluefish have begun to show up as well, with numbers only getting better as water temperatures warm and more schools move in.
Soundside anglers are seeing mostly red drum.
