Added on Thursday, April 26, 2012  Fish Post

Hatteras April 26, 2012

Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that some chopper bluefish have shown up in the local surf, and anglers are hooking them primarily during the early mornings and late evenings. Large cut baits are fooling most of the fish, but anglers have caught some while casting metal lures when the water’s clear.

Sea mullet, croaker, spot, and other panfish are feeding up and down the beaches, and casting a shrimp or bloodworm-baited bottom rig into deeper holes along the beachfront should produce plenty of action with the tasty bottom dwellers.

Some spanish mackerel have been caught from the south side of Cape Point, primarily by boaters, but surf casters have landed a few while casting small metal jigs.

A few citation-class drum have been landed by anglers making the walk to Cape Point and casting large cut baits.

Flounder are beginning to show up in Hatteras and Oregon Inlets.

Inshore, anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the channels and sloughs around Oregon Inlet while casting soft plastic baits.

 

Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers have been connecting with a few sea mullet and pufferfish since the winds last weekend. Before the blow, the bite was better, and it should be improving now. Some bluefish, croakers, and other bottom feeders were mixed in, and all are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.

Anglers making the walk to Cape Point have released a few citation-class red drum over the past week.

 

Kristin, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, bluefish, and rays on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and other baits.

 

Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching some sea mullet, puffferfish, bluefish, and smaller flounder from the local beaches.

A few false albacore were also caught by anglers casting metal jigs from the beach around Ramp 55 last week.

 

Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers caught and released some citation-class red drum while walking to Cape Point in the past week. Large cut baits on fish finder rigs are fooling most of the reds.

Some sea mullet, pufferfish, bluefish, and a few puppy drum have been falling for baited bottom rigs off the Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras beaches.

Inshore boats have found some big drum to sight-cast to off Hatteras Inlet, and spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some false albacore are taking an interest in trolled spoons just off the beaches.

Offshore, the dolphin bite has been excellent lately, and good numbers of blackfin tuna and a few yellowfins and wahoo have been in the mix as well. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are fooling the blue water gamefish. Boats have also tallied some blue and white marlin releases in recent weeks, so the billfish are showing up as well.

 

Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there’s been some solid mixed-bag spring action offshore of Hatteras Inlet lately. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna, wahoo, and dolphin have made up most of the catch, and they are coming from a variety of local blue water hotspots including the Rockpile and Diamond Shoals Tower. Trolling naked and skirted ballyhoo is tempting most of the bites from all the Gulf Stream predators.

 

Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers caught some puppy and yearling drum from the beach at Ocracoke last week, primarily on cut baits.

Some black drum have also been feeding in the surf and biting shrimp and sand fleas, which are also fooling some sea mullet and pompano (some to 2 lbs.).

A few chopper bluefish (to 10 lbs.) are also feeding along the beachfront and taking an interest in cut baits.

A large school of big black drum (to 60+ lbs.) was feeding in Ocracoke Inlet last week and provided some exciting sight-casting opportunities for a few lucky anglers casting bucktails.