Hatteras – August 18, 2016
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that there have been steady and nice-sized red drum caught on the soundside during a southwest wind. The drum are being primarily caught on drum rigs with fresh mullet for bait.
Anglers are also catching speckled trout on the grass flats on the north side of Gull Island. Fishermen who are heading to the shallow flats or grass flats are doing best with soft plastic shrimp in “natural” or “new penny,” while in the deeper water, Z-Man MinnowZ in “Bad Shad” is working well on the bottom for speckled trout.
There have also been a lot of needlefish which will appeal to fly fishermen, as these small fish are great fun to catch on a fly rod.
Along the surf, there have been a few puppy drum caught around Mirlo Beach, and anglers are also catching a number of thinner-sized pompano and sea mullet. Anglers are having the best luck using mullet for drum and blues, and using sand fleas, shrimp, and bloodworms for the spot, croaker, and sea mullet.
There have been lots of giant skates along the beaches in the 100+ lb. range, as well as sandbar, blacktip, and spinner sharks in the surf.
Amber Everhart and Justin Dean with a citation red drum caught and released near Hatteras. They were fishing with Capt. Justin Revere on the Adventure.
Leslie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are catching a variety of typical summertime species, including flounder, trout, spot, bluefish, and sea mullet. In addition to the expected catches, there have also been reports of a school of very small sailfish hanging around off the pier, as well as a recent catch of a 13.5” pompano and a 40 lb. king. Anglers are using a wide variety of bait, but bloodworms are having the widest appeal.
Trent Wilson (and his father Tom) with his first cobia. He was fishing out of Teachs Lair Marina.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers all along the Avon beaches are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish on Stingsilvers, as well as plenty of croakers and sea mullets in the 15” range.
There have also been a few flounder caught in Avon surf as well.
Barb, of Avon Pier, reports that the fishing has been a summertime mixed bag, with a variety of fish reported including croaker, spanish mackerel, pompano, sea mullet, and flounder. Anglers are having luck with a variety of bait, including cut mullet, squid, bloodworms, and shrimp for all kinds of fish, and they’re using Gotcha plugs for the spanish mackerel.
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers along the southern beaches (and especially at The Point) are catching a lot of bluefish and spanish mackerel. The blues have been everywhere, and the sound fishing has been picking up with plenty of blues and spanish caught in the Pamlico waters as well.
There has also been a lot of successful flounder jigged on cut bait, and the flounder bite has been especially good around Hatteras Inlet.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the mahi bite has slowed down offshore, although the wahoo fishing has been fantastic. Offshore vessels are catching a lot of sailfish as well.
Anglers are also catching drum of all sizes and cobia nearshore, as well as gray trout, speckled trout, and bluefish.
Along the beach, anglers are catching blues on metal at daybreak and sunset, and they’re having the best luck on a broken back metal lure. Surf fishermen are catching pompano throughout the day, as well as scattered sea mullet.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that recent offshore trips resulted in a limit of blueline tiles, as well as golden tile, snowy grouper, and rose fish.
There has also been steady billfish action, as well as scattered mahi and wahoos.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that the bluefish fishing around the inlet has been excellent, with a number of fish caught in the 3-4 lb. range. The inshore speckled trout fishing has also picked up, with plenty of 2-3 lb. catches. Anglers are still finding schools of big drum, and these big reds are expected to pick up in the next couple weeks as they go to spawn before the next full moon.
There have been puppy drum hanging around in the grass flats. Fishermen who are heading out at night to go flounder gigging are getting exceptional results, including a few big flounder catches and a lot of sheapshead that are weighing in up to 10 lbs.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the fishing has picked back up and anglers all along the Ocracoke beaches are catching bluefish, sea mullet, pompano, puppy drum, and flounder. There have also been scattered spanish mackerel caught recently on mullet.
Inshore, anglers are catching speckled trout, puppy drum, bluefish, and flounder. Small shrimp are showing up inside the sound, and the finger mullets are also starting to make an appearance. Offshore, fishermen have reported solid bottom fishing, as well as mahi, wahoo, and an array of billfish.
