Hatteras July 5, 2012
Preston and Mike Anders with a dolphin they hooked while trolling off Hatteras Inlet near the Rockpile on the "Rebekah Lynn."
Dalton, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are seeing a decent number of cobia from the piers.
Spanish mackerel are also making a good showing for anglers on the planks, who are hooking the fish on Gotcha plugs and other flashy metal casting lures.
Spadefish, sheepshead, tautog, and triggerfish are feeding on the local wrecks just off the beaches. Bottom fishing with shrimp, sand fleas, and other baits will tempt bites from all four.
Surf casters along the local beaches are connecting with some pompano, sea mullet, and an occasional puppy drum while casting shrimp and sand fleas from the beaches.
Fishing in the new inlet north of Rodanthe is producing good numbers of flounder and some speckled trout. Gulp baits will tempt bites from both.
Larry, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the piers.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot on shrimp and bloodworms and flounder on small live baits.
Ian, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and croaker in the local surf.
Fishing from the beach around the Buxton motels is producing some pompano and bluefish.
Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are the way to go for the bluefish and bottom feeders.
Anglers fishing from the pier are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working metal lures from the planks.
Some speckled trout are also in the mix on the pier.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and bluefish while bottom fishing in the surf on shrimp and cut baits.
Working metal lures from the sand is producing some action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Some flounder have been mixed in around Hatteras Inlet. Live and Gulp baits are top choices for the flatfish.
B. Keyes, of Swansea, MS, with a puppy drum he hooked in the surf of Ocracoke Island. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Tackle.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are hooking bluefish, sea mullet, and a few pompano from the beach at Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras on shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits.
Inshore boats fishing the sound are hooking good numbers of speckled and gray trout while casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
Trolling small spoons around Hatteras Inlet is producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Offshore trollers are still hooking good numbers of dolphin along with a few wahoo and blackfin tuna. The sailfish and white and blue marlin bite is still going, too, with good numbers of releases for the local fleet over the past week. Skirted ballyhoo are producing most of the action with the blue water predators with some boats pulling larger trolling plugs for the marlin as well.
Boats bottom fishing offshore are putting plenty of tasty sea bass, triggerfish, tilefish, and grouper in the fish boxes.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the marlin bite is on off Hatteras Inlet, with some days producing multiple releases and action with both blues and whites. Both rigged ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures will tempt bites from the billfish.
Good numbers of gaffer dolphin are still feeding off the inlet as well and taking a hearty interest in skirted ballyhoo.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the strong SW winds produced some stirred-up surf conditions last week, but anglers still managed to hook some bluefish, puppy drum, gray trout, sea mullet, flounder, and a few pompano. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits have been producing most of the action.
Trolling spoons around the inlet and in the ocean and sound is tempting bites from bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Cobia are still around, and anglers are hooking them while bottom fishing in Blair Channel and sight-casting around the sea buoy.
Offshore trollers are connecting with plenty of dolphin with scattered wahoo, king mackerel, and billfish also in the mix.
