Hatteras – August 4, 2016
Mike, of Hatteras Jack, reports that there have been a lot of sharks caught off the surf, including a number of blacktips in the 3-4’ range. There was a recent 56 lb. cobia caught off the Rodanthe Pier, and the spot, croaker, and mullet action has been solid all along the beaches.
On the western side of NC Highway 12, there is still good trout and drum action back in the sound. The drum fishing has been especially strong during a southwest wind, and anglers are catching them by chucking cut mullet out. The trout can be caught drifting a popping cork and a soft plastic over grass flats.
Flounder fishing has also been good near the inlet.
Lance Estep with a 5.4 lb. spanish mackerel he caught on a live menhaden off Rodanthe Pier.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that spanish mackerel are being caught up and down the beaches, and pompano are starting to show up in big numbers as well. The pompano had initially made an appearance and then disappeared earlier in the season, but they have resurfaced in recent days.
There have also been plenty of sea mullet, croaker, and sheepshead caught around the Avon Pier. Anglers are having the best luck with shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas for bait, and they are catching croaker and sea mullet close to shore around the peak of high tide.
Taylor and Greg Goodson, of Yorktown, VA, with two 40+ red drum they caught while fishing aboard the Bak Bar.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are catching bluefish, flounder, sea mullet, pompano, and a few drum off the beach. The Point has recently re-opened to vehicles and pedestrians, and anglers are catching spanish mackerel at the Point on spoons and Gotcha plugs.
Jake Worthington and Curtis Gum, with two cobia (57 lbs. and 72 lbs.) caught off of Avalon Pier. The fish fell for Bowed Up Bucktails and live bluefish.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the dolphin catch has been sporadic, with offshore vessels catching many bailer-sized mahi one day, and then none the next. As such, most offshore fishermen have been targeting blackfin tuna, which has been a sure thing.
There have been wahoo caught in the area, including several citation fish in the 40-50 lb. range. Billfish are also biting, with blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish releases reported.
Inshore, anglers are catching cobia and drum of all sizes, as well as bluefish and trout. Anglers are also catching spanish mackerel on the front side on spoons.
Along the beaches, fishermen are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish at sunrise and sunset on metal lures, and then they are reeling in pompano and sea mullet throughout the day.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin are starting to show up in solid numbers. There have been lots of bailers, as well as a few gaffer and citation-sized fish mixed in. Blackfin tuna are prevalent in the local waters, and anglers have also reported blue marlin and scattered skipjack tuna offshore.
Heather, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish, and there have been many sightings of tarpon from the pier (although none have been landed yet). The sea mullet catches are scattered, but there were some nice-sized pompano landed (including two citation fish).
Anglers are having good luck with white body Gotcha plugs for the spanish and bluefish, and shrimp and sand fleas for the pompano.
Leslie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that this week saw a big cobia caught, along with a king mackerel landed that was more than 40 lbs.
Bluefish, sea mullet, and some small spanish mackerel are providing steady action from the decks.
A couple of tarpon have also been spotted off the end of the pier, but few have been hooked.
Josh, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers along the surf have landed a lot of bluefish, sea mullet, and keeper-sized flounder off of Gulp shrimp on jigheads. Fishermen are using a wide variety of fresh cut bait for beach fishing, including bunker, squid, cut mullet, and shrimp.
Inshore fishermen have encountered a couple of big schools of drum that are cruising through the inlet, and anglers are still throwing plugs for spanish mackerel along the inlet, as well as trolling for bluefish.
Offshore, there have been scattered dolphin, a couple of billfish and marlin caught, the occasional wahoo, and a few king mackerel. The bottom fishing has been really good, with nice-sized grouper caught, and amberjacks have been heavy off of the wrecks.
