Hatteras July 28, 2011
Judi Newton with a 30” red drum she caught and released in the Ocracoke surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the southwest winds have made for dirty water in recent days, but anglers are still picking up good numbers of bottomfish like spot, croaker, and sea mullet while fishing the surf. Bloodworms are producing the most action, but anglers have been catching the larger sea mullet on small chunks of cut mullet lately.
Shark fishing has been good for anglers soaking large cut baits near the point, and those kayaking baits and casting them are both getting into the action (with blacktips and duskies to 100 lbs.).
Some puppy drum have also been landed around the point over the past week, mostly on cut baits.
When the wind switches or lays out, the excellent spanish mackerel bite that anglers saw last week should return to the point area. Casting metal jigs like Shore Lures is the way to hook up with the spaniards when they’re around.
Anglers fishing the Bonner Bridge are still finding good numbers of sheepshead, with mussels, barnacles, and fiddler crabs doing most of the damage.
Flounder are also feeding in the inlet, but anglers looking for them need to fish larger live baits than usual, as croaker are quickly eating smaller mud minnows and finger mullet on the bottom.
The speckled trout bite is still solid in the sound around Rodanthe, and most of the fish are falling for Gulp baits.
Kathleen, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some pigfish, croaker, spot, sea mullet, and other panfish while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers have also seen a few cobia from the pier lately, but they haven’t landed one.
Malcolm, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that the local surf anglers are mostly finding action with croaker, sea mullet, and pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. A few bluefish have also been in the mix.
There’s been a decent shark bite down around the point lately, and cut baits are fooling the big predators.
The late evenings have been producing a red-hot bluefish bite around Hatteras Inlet recently, and anglers are limiting out on the fish while casting metal lures from the sand.
Tyler Thomas, of Buxton, NC, with a citation 37 lb. king mackerel that struck a live bait on a pin rig off Avon Pier. Photo courtesy of JAM at Teach's Lair Marina.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that some spot, croaker, and bluefish are coming over the rails, mostly on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that the strong southwest winds have made holding bottom while fishing the beach a little tough lately. Anglers have been able to connect with some sea mullet, bluefish, spot, and flounder while fishing in the breakers lately.
There’s also been a solid bluefish bite around Hatteras Inlet in the evenings.
Inshore boats are finding plenty of action with bluefish and speckled trout in the sound.
Offshore boats are reporting that the excellent dolphin fishing continues when it’s calm enough to get out. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in, and boats have released decent numbers of sailfish recently as well.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent dolphin bite around well-defined weedlines and current edges recently, with every boat in the fleet limiting out several days last week. Most of the fish are bailers, and boats are catching them on spinning tackle with cut squid and false albacore, but there are a few big gaffers still in the mix. Naked ballyhoo have been tempting bites from the larger fish.
Some scattered wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in with the ‘phins. Sailfishing has been solid some days lately, and boats are occasionally finding the spunky billfish feeding on bait balls.
Cody, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are picking up a few red drum and bluefish from the surf, but the high winds have had the fishing a little slow off the beaches lately. Sand fleas and cut baits will fool the reds and blues.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been solid in the sound, and bucktail rigs are proving effective on the flatfish.
Spanish mackerel trolling in the sound has still been producing plenty of action for boats dragging Clarkspoons.
