Hatteras – July 31, 2014
Caitlin Nugent, of Raleigh, NC, with her first dolphin. The fish fell for a ballyhoo behind a blue/white sea witch near the Rockpile.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are hooking a mixed bag of bottom feeders like spot, sea mullet, croaker, and pompano while fishing the local surf. Shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the action.
A few citation-class red drum have been reported by anglers fishing at Hatteras Inlet.
Anglers casting soft plastics and live baits in Oregon Inlet are hooking some solid flounder.
The nighttime red drum bite in the sound is still going strong, and anglers are connecting with the reds on cut baits and finger mullet.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the sound and biting live baits and artificials.
Dolly, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that anglers are hooking some healthy sea mullet and pompano while bottom fishing along the beachfront. Most are falling for shrimp and sand fleas.
Anglers wading at Oregon Inlet are hooking good numbers of flounder on the south side and speckled trout to the north. Soft plastics are fooling both.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings of the bridge, and they’re biting sand fleas (some to 10+ lbs.).
There’s still a good red drum bite in the sound at night, and cut mullet and finger mullet are fooling most of the reds.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, spot, croaker, and fat pompano while bottom fishing in the local surf. Shrimp and sand fleas are fooling the panfish.
Puppy drum are feeding in the sound and biting cut baits and soft plastic lures.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some pompano and bluefish from the local beachfront.
Jake Worthington, of Camden, NC, with a 4.5 lb. red porgy that bit a cigar minnow while he was fishing some bottom structure off Hatteras Inlet on the “Miss Hatteras.”
The puppy drum bite is still going in the sound, but the fish seem to have been smaller lately.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, pompano, spot, and croaker while bottom fishing the surf with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are feeding around Hatteras Inlet and biting live and strip baits along with soft lures like Gulps.
Inshore boats are still hooking big numbers of puppy drum while casting spoons, soft plastics, and live baits in the sound. Some bluefish and speckled and gray trout are mixed in, and they’re biting the same things.
The offshore fleet is still connecting with some dolphin, wahoo, and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo in the blue water off Hatteras Inlet. White and blue marlin and sailfish are feeding in the same areas and also taking an interest in ballyhoo.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing plenty of action with tilefish, sea bass, triggerfish, snappers, and more.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that offshore boats are hooking plenty of dolphin and some wahoo while plying the local blue water hotspots. Billfish are also looking for meals offshore and biting the naked and skirted ballyhoo that boats are trolling for the meatfish.
Inshore boaters are hooking big numbers of puppy drum along with some flounder and speckled and gray trout. Soft plastics and live baits are fooling the inshore predators.
Surf casters are still connecting with big numbers of sea mullet along with a few large pompano. Shrimp and sand fleas are fooling both.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of dolphin while trolling offshore of Hatteras Inlet (many bailers but some gaffers to 41 lbs. recently as well). Most are falling for naked and skirted ballyhoo the boats are pulling. Decent numbers of wahoo are in the mix and biting both the ballyhoo and high-speed artificials that boats are trolling. The billfish bite is still going, and local boats have released white and blue marlin and sailfish over the past week.
