Hatteras April 28, 2011
Capt. Charlie Brown, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, and Scott Hoffel with a pair of over-slot red drum they hooked while sight-casting to schools of fish along the beach at Cape Lookout.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that offshore fishing continues to be solid out of Hatteras Inlet. Anglers are still catching good numbers of blackfin tuna with a few yellowfins sprinkled in, and the dolphin bite keeps getting better (with many boats landing double-digit numbers).
Also, unusually for April, boats are landing decent numbers of citation-class wahoo. Most of the tuna action has been around the 230 and 280 Rocks recently, with the majority of the wahoo showing up around the Rockpile. Some 20 lb. class bluefish have been feeding around the Rockpile as well, and they will likely be headed for the beaches within the next week.
Until the big blues show, surf casters have been hooking up with plenty of smaller blues, sea mullet, pufferfish, and some large red drum around ramp 55 and the Point. The Point has been closed to walking and 4WD access, but determined anglers can still fish the fabled spot if they keep their feet in the water at all times. Large cut baits are the way to go for the big reds, while most of the other surf species are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on two-hook bottom rigs.
Inshore boats are finding some excellent action with citation-class reds on the shoals of Hatteras Inlet, where they’re sight-casting to them with bucktails.
Bob, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that there’s been a good bite of sea mullet (most 3/4 to 1 lb.) and pufferfish all up and down the island’s beaches recently. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling both.
A hot flounder bite last week has died down a bit, but anglers are still landing decent numbers of keeper flatfish around Frisco Pier and the jetties. Gulp baits on jigheads have been producing the lion’s share of the action with the flatties.
Anglers have released citation-class red drum over the past weeks at the Point (the beach is closed but can be fished by wading anglers), False Point, Hatteras Inlet, and the north and south ends of Ocracoke. Large cut baits are the way to go for the big reds, and south or southwesterly winds tend to produce the best surf bite.
Allen Golden, of Elm City, NC, with a 15" gray trout that fell for a bottom rig baited with fresh shrimp while he was fishing from the Sheraton Pier in Atlantic Beach.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jacks, reports that anglers have been hooking up with some yearling red drum from the north beaches, especially around ramps 27 and 34. Cut baits are getting attention from the drum.
Some bluefish are also in the mix when the water’s clean.
The area’s flounder fishing is turning on, and anglers are connecting with the flatfish near the Point, the jetties, and the rocks at Oregon Inlet. Pearl white Gulp or Excite-a-Bite soft baits on 1/2 oz. leadheads are producing the majority of the action with the flatties.
Sea mullet and pufferfish are feeding up and down the beaches, and anglers are connecting with good catches while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some large red drum are feeding on the inlet shoals, where boaters are hooking them on curlytails and cut baits, and they should soon be making their way into the sounds.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that surfcasters are connecting with good numbers of sea mullet, croaker, and pufferfish all over the island’s beaches. Shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs are fooling these panfish.
Flounder fishing is turning on, and anglers have been hooking them at many areas in the surf while casting jigheads with white Gulp baits.
A few citation-class red drum have been caught and released around Hatteras Inlet recently, as well as one from Avon Pier. Large cut baits are the tickets to fooling the reds.
Some bluefish and sea mullet have been reported in the sound.
Connie, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surfcasters have been seeing some action with sea mullet, pufferfish, flounder, and some bluefish over the past week.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf bite has slowed down a little bit, but the best action recently has been on either end of the island towards the inlets.
Anglers continue to catch decent numbers of sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms in the suds. A few large bluefish and black drum have been in the mix as well.
Over the past week, boats have been catching solid numbers of citation-class red drum on the shoals of Ocracoke Inlet, mostly on large cut baits. It should only take a day or two of the right winds to bring those big reds in towards the beaches.
