Hatteras/Ocracoke – July 2024
Jeremy, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers are seeing a good mix of species while bottom fishing. Catches include spot, croakers, sea mullet, and the occasional red drum.
Some spanish mackerel are being caught from the surf, though the better option is to get out on a local pier where casting to the schools is more accessible. For both the pier and surf, high tides have been best, with the early evening also producing better than other parts of the day.
Soundside anglers have been catching good numbers of speckled trout. Water temperatures are fluctuating around that 80-degree mark, and these fish are often moving back and forth between the shallows (2’) and deeper (5-6’+) areas. Any variety of soft plastics on a lighter jig head has produced most of the action, and a brighter, solid color pattern in baits has been the better option.
Bluefish are all over the place, with plenty of tailor-sized fish around with scattered larger ones. The blues will be right around the same areas as the trout, and the blues are best targeted by casting metals.
So far, red drum fishing in the sound has been pretty tough all season.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that most of the pier’s fishing action is centered around spots and croakers. There has been a decent spanish mackerel and bluefish bite, with evenings seeing the better action.
Tarpon are in the area, and the pier successfully landed one in the second half of June.
Terrell Dixon, of High Point, NC, released this blue marlin offshore of Hatteras Island using an Iland Sailure and ballyhoo. He was fishing with Capt. Jeremy Hicks of Calypso Sportfishing out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that soundside action really came alive, with anglers catching a bunch of good-sized speckled trout, red drum, and bluefish.
The Hatteras beaches are seeing a mix of sea mullet, puppy drum, and bluefish. This is predominantly a bottom fish bite for all three species.
The Frisco beaches are seeing the same species, as well as scattered pompano.
Anglers out at the Point have bene catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, sharks, and rays.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs are catching a bunch of bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing has produced sea mullet, bluefish, and a few spots. In addition, lookdowns have shown up.
Butch, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that surf anglers are seeing a nice mix of sea mullet, puppy drum, and a few pompano.
Soundside action has been pretty good for speckled trout and puppy drum.
Nearshore anglers are still landing the occasional cobia.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that anglers have been catching pretty good numbers of bailer-sized dolphin, with some nice gaffers occasionally going into the box.
Blackfin tuna and scattered wahoo are also part of the trolling action (when pulling bait).
Billfish action has been pretty good going into summer, with blue marlin and some sailfish around in the deep.
Inshore anglers are seeing great speckled trout fishing, as well as some red drum action. As these water temperatures keep warming moving into July, trout and red drum may slow down some as both species seek deeper water.
Surf anglers on Hatteras Island are catching pompano, and when the wind is blowing, they’re also landing some red drum.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers have been doing really well on speckled trout. Popping corks rigged with a variety of soft plastics have been the top producing setup.
An abundance of bluefish are in the sound and around the inlets, and anglers are having success casting to them with spoons and topwater plugs.
Red drum fishing has been overall up and down. Both Carolina-rigged cut baits and sight-casting to fish on the flats have had mixed successes.
A lot of spanish mackerel are around, and they’re being caught while both trolling spoons or casting jigs to surface-feeding schools.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that recent trips have been finding a bunch of dolphin. For the most part, trolling has produced these fish, but as conditions settle, there will soon be days for anglers to pitch baits to schools.
Billfish are in the mix, with some blue and white marlin around.
Depending on the day, the fleet is also seeing good numbers of blackfin tuna caught, alongside the occasional wahoo.
Gary Hudson, of Wilmington, and Shane Kruger, of Delta, OH, caught these 25″ and 23.5″ speckled trout in the Pamlico Sound behind Rodanthe using popping corks and Z-Man trout tricks.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that recent trips are catching scattered mahi, both while trolling and when pitching baits under grass.
Some marlin are around as well.
Jeremy, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that bottom fishing is producing sea mullet, spot, pinfish, and some citation pompano.
A bunch of throwback flounder are around, too.
Red drum action has been steady, with plenty of puppy drum n the area, as well as some over-slot fish.
A bunch of bluefish are hitting both bottom-rigged natural baits and casting jigs.
Just off the beach, anglers are still seeing some cobia being landed.
Spanish mackerel are around in good numbers, and they’re mostly being caught while trolling spoons.
The sound is starting to come alive, with good numbers of red drum (including some citations), bluefish, and a ton of speckled trout.
Offshore anglers are reporting a pretty good dolphin bite, with a few wahoo in the mix.
