Hatteras July 11, 2013
Caroline Bingham (age 13) of Fredericksburg, MD, and mate Cat Peele with a bull dolphin that bit a trolled ballyhoo offshore of Hatteras Inlet while they were fishing with Capt. Jay Kavanagh on the “Bite Me.”
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and bluefish in the Rodanthe surf. Shrimp and sand fleas are fooling the mullet, with cut baits a better choice for the bluefish.
There’s still a red hot red drum bite for anglers fishing the Pamlico Sound from shore between Avon and Rodanthe. Cut baits and finger mullet will fool the reds (ranging from under to over-slot).
Speckled trout are still on the feed in the sound to the north, where anglers are catching big numbers on soft plastics like Gulp baits.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge. Dangling fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or mussels near the structure is the way to tempt them to bite.
Flounder are looking for meals along the rock jetty at Oregon Inlet, and they will happily bite Gulps or small live baits fished on the bottom.
Kelly, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with some gray trout, flounder, and keeper puppy drum lately on bottom rigs baited with live baits.
Some spadefish, croaker, spot, and sea mullet are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on double-drop rigs.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are putting together some solid catches of sea mullet and pompano in the local surf. Shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the action.
The southwest winds have the water a bit dirty for anglers to cast metal lures for spanish mackerel and bluefish from the beaches, but the fish are around and should be biting when conditions improve.
Back in the sound, anglers in the know are connecting with puppy and large drum along with a few speckled trout. Boaters and kayakers have had the best luck, but wading anglers have also been catching a few fish. Soft plastic baits or live and cut baits will tempt the fish to bite.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that pompano, sea mullet, and puppy drum have been feeding in the Frisco surf lately. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp are producing action with all three.
Anglers are hooking some larger drum while casting cut baits around Hatteras Inlet.
Back in the sound, anglers are connecting with flounder, speckled trout, and an occasional puppy drum while casting Gulps and live baits.
Ray Scott, of Chesapeake, VA, with a 41 lb. dolphin that he hooked north of the 280 Rocks while fishing off Hatteras Inlet with his wife Linda.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf casters have had a solid week along Hatteras’s southern beaches, hooking citation pompano and sea mullet, black drum, spot, and croaker on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Some bluefish have also been falling for the bottom rigs, and anglers are catching a few flounder on Gulps and other baits.
Inshore boats are hooking big numbers of red drum (from puppies to citation 40”+ fish) in the sound and around Hatteras Inlet. Soft plastics, bucktail jigs, and cut baits are fooling most of the reds.
Offshore, the dolphin bite remains solid, and boats are also encountering scattered wahoo and yellowfin and blackfin tunas. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the blue water pelagics. There are also still some scattered billfish in the area, and they’ll also take an interest in ballyhoo.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin bite remains solid off Hatteras Inlet, with anglers putting together big catches while trolling ballyhoo and bailing smaller fish on squid and cut baits when schools surround the boat.
Blue and white marlin are feeding in the same areas and will pounce on naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that there’s been a decent puppy drum bite for surf casters along Ocracoke’s beachfront. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits will all fool the pups.
Some bluefish and sea mullet are mixed in, and pompano are starting to make a showing as the water clears.
Not many anglers have been doing it, but there should be some spanish mackerel and bluefish action to be had for anglers casting metal jigs from the beach, as that bite usually kicks off when the pompano show.
Inshore, there’s been a good mix of fish but no red hot action with any one species. Black drum, puppy drum, speckled trout, and scattered bluefish and spanish mackerel have all found their way from the sound into anglers’ boats this week. There are also still scattered cobia feeding around Blair Channel, where they’ll bite dead and cut baits on the bottom.
Offshore, the dolphin bite has slowed a bit, but will hopefully recover with better weather. Trollers are connecting with some wahoo.
Fishing around wrecks and other bottom structure is producing action with amberjacks and triggerfish.
