Hatteras April 10, 2014
The Walter party of northern VA, with a limit of puppy drum they hooked while casting gold spoons in the Pamlico Sound with Capt. Aaron Aaron of Tightline Charters.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that puppy drum are still the name of the game along the Outer Banks, and anglers are hooking them in a variety of ways and spots along the barrier islands. Surf casters are finding the fish around Oregon and Hatteras inlets and the beachfront in between. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits and scented soft baits like Gulps pinned on jigheads are fooling the pups along the beach.
They’re also biting in the sound near both inlets, where anglers can also hook up on bait or soft plastics on popping cork rigs.
Southwest winds over the coming week should turn on the drum action along the backside of Hatteras Island further from the inlets, where anglers can soak cut baits on bottom rigs to hook up with pups and perhaps some larger fish.
Some sea mullet and pufferfish are starting to show up from the Point to Hatteras Inlet, and the panfish should become more numerous and move north over the coming weeks as the water warms.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the water’s still a bit cool along Hatteras Island’s northern beaches, but anglers are starting to see some croaker and sea mullet. They’re still hooking some puppy drum, too.
There’s been better action with the panfish and puppies from the point down to Hatteras Inlet due to the warmer water.
Jerry and Nick Stebanko, from CA, with a pair of slot red drum they hooked on Gulp baits beneath popping corks while fishing the Pamlico Sound with Rob Alderman of Outer Banks Kayak Fishing.
Anglers have also released a few citation-class reds at Hatteras Inlet while casting cut baits on fish finder rigs.
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that some pufferfish, sea mullet, and smaller bluefish have begun to show up along the beach at Frisco. Puppy drum are also still on the feed in the surf. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits are tempting bites from the panfish and puppy drum, and anglers are also still hooking the pups on Gulp baits.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that the puppy drum action is still holding strong, with anglers hooking the fish from Cape Point to Hatteras Village. Both baited bottom rigs and soft plastics on jigheads are getting attention from the reds.
The Point has been closed to 4wd access, but a few anglers are walking around the closure to get to the fish. Some sand tiger sharks have also been hooked by anglers casting large cut baits on fish finder rigs at the Point. And a 43” red drum was caught and released at Hatteras Inlet over the weekend, so the spring big drum bite should be coming along shortly.
Some healthy sea mullet have shown up around Buxton, and anglers caught reasonable numbers of the tasty panfish last weekend. Shrimp, cut baits, and Fish Bites on bottom rigs will all attract attention from the mullet.
Inshore boats are connecting with plenty of puppy drum while working soft plastic baits in the Pamlico Sound.
The offshore boats have been tied to the docks due to the weather for most of the past few weeks, but when they’ve been able to get out they’ve found some blackfin tuna and dolphin while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures. Bottom fishing offshore is producing fast action with tilefish, triggerfish, sea bass, some grouper, and more.
One boat found a school of cobia not too far offshore last weekend and landed three, so anglers heading offshore would be wise to keep an eye out for brown shadows.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that citation-class red drum have shown up on the Ocracoke beachfront, and anglers caught and released solid numbers last weekend. Large cut baits on fish finder rigs are the way to go for the big reds. Some large sharks are also biting the cut baits.
The puppy drum bite just won’t stop, and anglers are hooking good numbers of the smaller reds while working artificials and casting shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs along the island’s beachfront.
When boats have made it offshore recently, the bottom fishing around wrecks and other offshore structure has been excellent. Triggerfish, beeliners, black sea bass, and more are falling for multi-hook rigs baited with squid and cut baits. Schools of amberjacks and some cobia are in many of the same areas and will bite larger cut or live baits along with vertical jigs.
