Hatteras Winter 2012-2013
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hill, of Cedar Point, NC, pose with three of four wahoo they landed while high-speed trolling 50 miles off Ocracoke Inlet on the “Pura Vida” to celebrate their wedding.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout and puppy drum while working Gulp baits and other artificials from the beaches at Buxton and Frisco.
Anglers have landed a few scattered striped bass in the surf to the north, but the main body of ocean stripers is still well north of the area. The ocean water temperatures are still around 55 degrees and will need to drop down into the 40’s for the stripers to make a decent showing.
Anglers may also see some puppy drum action as fish push out of the sound when the temperatures drop, and the pups will bite soft plastic baits and MirrOlures as long as the water temperatures remain in the mid-40’s or better.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that sharks and skates have been making up most of the surf catch lately, but with very few anglers on the island right now, it’s possible there’s some other action going on. The water temperatures are still in an excellent zone for speckled trout, so anglers may see the trout bite pick back up in the surf, as there should still be plenty of specks in the sound right now. Soft plastic baits and MirrOlures are top choices for anglers looking to hook up with the specks.
Anglers are also hoping to see a repeat of the action from a few winters ago when large schools of puppy drum made their way out of the sound and were feeding along the beachfront.
One lucky angler landed a large striped bass around Hatteras Inlet last week, but the fish was likely an isolated resident from the Albermarle Sound instead of coming from the large schools of Atlantic Ocean/Chesapeake Bay fish. The water temperatures will need to drop considerably for those fish to make their way to Outer Banks beaches this winter, but it’s always a possibility.
Artie Hinson, of Gold Hill, NC, landed this 44″, 30.8 lb. striped bass at Ramp 55 in Hatteras Village. Photo courtesy of Frank and Fran’s.
Russ, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some slow fishing from the beach with sharks, skates, and an occasional puppy drum making up most of the catch.
If water temperatures fall enough, anglers may see a striped bass bite develop in the area, but it remains to be seen whether the fish will make it this far south over the winter.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are hooking a few sea mullet on the Hatteras beaches. Sharks and skates have been making up most of the catch for surf anglers lately, but a few puppy drum and bluefish have been biting at Buxton and Hatteras as well. Shrimp and cut baits are the best bets for bottom fishing in the surf.
One 46” striped bass was also landed by a lucky angler in the Hatteras surf last week, but the big schools of ocean fish are still well to the north of the area.
The offshore fleet is catching excellent numbers of blackfin tuna, both while trolling and jigging (with some citation-size fish). A few wahoo, albacore, dolphin, and king mackerel have also been riding home in the fish boxes lately.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing some action with tasty tilefish.
Not many boats have been inshore fishing lately, but the last reports included some solid action with speckled trout and puppy drum while working lures in the sound.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers are connecting with solid numbers of blackfin tuna (many 20-30 lbs.) while fishing off Hatteras Inlet. Both trolling and vertical jigging are producing results with the blackfins.
Greg Bottoms, of Tarboro, NC, with a 25.5″, 5.58 lb. speckled trout that earned him first place in the Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsmen Toys for Tots Speckled Trout Tournament.
Yellowfin tuna (some to 50 lbs.) and a few wahoo and king mackerel are also falling for trolled ballyhoo and jigs off the inlet.
The best action has been from the Diamond Shoals Tower out to the east.
Anglers are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of large bluefin tuna, and if past winters are an indication, they may feed off Hatteras through March. The bluefins also respond to trolled baits and vertical jigs, and may even be tempted to bite topwater poppers.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the few anglers on the island are still connecting with some puppy drum while casting baits and artificial lures into the surf.
A few speckled trout are mixed in with the pups and falling for soft plastic baits and MirrOlures.
The puppy drum often feed in the island’s surf through the winter. Lures like gold and black Hopkins spoons and soft plastic/jighead combos are often more effective than bait when the water’s cold, as the fish aren’t actively feeding but will offer a reaction strike to lures slowly moving through the schools. Calm days with moderately clear surf offer the best odds of finding the puppies.
Some sea mullet and plenty of dogfish and skates are also taking an interest in baited bottom rigs in the surf.
Offshore anglers are connecting with blackfin tuna while trolling and jigging offshore of Diamond Shoals.
