Hatteras August 2, 2012
Mate Jeremy Hicks prepares to release a blue marlin caught by Jeremy Baker, of Youngsville, NC, offshore of Hatteras Inlet. The fish bit a skirted ballyhoo while they were fishing with Capt. Jay Kavanagh aboard the charterboat "Bite Me" out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Dalton, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf casters have been connecting with some fat sea mullet and pompano (some 2+ lbs.) in the local surf. Some smaller puppy drum and other bottom feeders are in the mix. Shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have been the most productive baits lately.
Pier fishermen are hooking some large sharks, and a few cobia are still cruising past as well.
Fishing the Oregon Inlet catwalk with shrimp and sand fleas is producing plenty of action with sheepshead, spadefish, black drum, and an occasional triggerfish.
The flounder bite is still strong in the new inlet, with fish falling for natural baits and soft plastics like Gulps.
Speckled trout are feeding in the sound, where anglers are hooking them while working soft plastic baits along sloughs and grass flats.
P.J., of Rodanthe Pier, reports that some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with some sea mullet and spot.
Sheepshead, spadefish, and the occasional triggerfish are also providing some action around the pilings.
Several blacktips and one hammerhead shark were hooked from the end of the pier last week.
Ian, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf casters are hooking plenty of bottom feeders like sea mullet, spot, croaker, and pompano while casting shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas from the beaches.
The speckled trout bite should still be going strong in the sound for anglers working soft plastic baits.
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that surf casters are connecting with good numbers of sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with bloodworms. Pompano (some 2+ lbs.) are taking an interest in sand fleas in the breakers. A few bluefish and flounder are also joining in the action for surf anglers.
Casting soft plastic baits in the sound is producing some action with speckled and gray trout and a few puppy drum.
Robbie Evans, Ben Moye, and Chris Wilkins, of Pine Level, NC, with a 68 lb. wahoo that bit a live bait while they were king mackerel fishing east of Cape Lookout Shoals. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that sea mullet, spot, croaker, and other bottom feeders have been offering surf casters plenty of action on the beaches from Frisco to Buxton recently. Some bluefish and puppy drum have also been in the mix. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are fooling most of the fish in the surf.
Anglers making the walk to Cape Point have been rewarded with some excellent spanish mackerel and bluefish action while working metal lures from the sand.
Inshore, anglers fishing the sound are hooking speckled and gray trout while working soft plastic baits. Red drum (from puppies to citations) have also been in the mix for inshore boats, and they’re falling for natural baits and bucktail/soft plastic combos.
Trolling small spoons in the sound and around the inlet, anglers are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Offshore trolling has also been productive of late, with boats hooking plenty of dolphin and some wahoo. The billfish bite remains solid most days, with blue and white marlin and sailfish released by the local fleet lately. Naked and skirted ballyhoo, along with baitless trolling lures, are producing the action with the blue water predators.
Bottom fishing offshore has also been excellent lately, with boats boxing up sea bass, tilefish, and grouper while dropping baits to deepwater structure.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of billfish off Hatteras Inlet, with blue and white marlin and sailfish flags flying amongst the fleet recently.
Some wahoo and bailer dolphin have also been in the offshore mix, and all are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo trolled with dredge and daisy chain teasers.
Jim, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf fishing’s been a bit slow recently, but there has been a good sea mullet bite along much of the island’s beachfront. Shrimp and sand fleas are tempting the bites from the mullet.
Inshore, anglers are hooking some large red drum in the sound and inlet. The gray trout bite has been solid in the inlet and deeper areas inshore like Teach’s Hole.
Offshore trollers are finding a solid wahoo bite when they make it out to the Gulf Stream.
