Hatteras – June 12, 2014
Loran O’Neal, of Avon, NC, with an 82 lb. cobia he hooked off Hatteras Inlet. Weighed in at Teach’s Lair Marina.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are connecting with bottomfish like sea mullet and pompano (with some citation 2+ lb. fish) in the surf up and down Hatteras Island. Shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas are producing most of the action.
There’s still a good red drum bite in the sound off the back side of the island between Avon and Rodanthe. Cut baits are tempting bites from the reds.
Flounder and puppy drum are feeding around Oregon Inlet, and they’re biting live baits and soft plastics.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around the pilings of the Bonner Bridge, where anglers can dangle sand fleas and other crustacean baits close to the pilings to hook up.
Steve, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that a cobia was landed from the beach last week around Ramp 38.
Surf casters are also connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and small pompano while baiting up with sand fleas and shrimp.
Red drum are feeding in the sound along the back of the island (most slot fish but some over-slot) and biting soft plastics and cut baits.
Jamie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that live-baiters found plenty of action with chopper bluefish (8-12 lbs.) last week.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and smaller bluefish on Gotchas.
Bottom fishing is producing some sea mullet (to 2+ lbs.), croaker, spot, and other bottom feeders. Shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the action.
Matt Anderson, of Suffolk, VA, with an amberjack he hooked on a Spro bucktail with a soft plastic trailer near Diamond Shoals Tower while he was fishing on a mothership trip with Rob Alderman of Outer Banks Kayak Fishing.
Some keeper flounder are also coming over the rails for anglers baiting up with strip and live baits.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers have been hooking some cobia from kayaks and the beach around Avon recently. Cut baits are producing most of the action with the cobia.
Sea mullet, puppy drum, and pompano are feeding in the surf as well, and they’re falling for shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms.
Some keeper flounder have also been coming from the surf and piers for anglers working soft plastics and live and cut baits.
Bev, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel have been biting metal lures that anglers are working from the beachfront. Some citation pompano and puppy drum are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
The puppy drum bite has also been going strong in the sound for anglers soaking bait and casting lures (like spoons).
Cobia are still feeding along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking them while paddling large cut baits out on kayaks.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, puppy drum, black drum, and pompano while soaking baits in the surf.
Anglers working metal lures around Hatteras Inlet are connecting with some spanish mackerel.
Bluefish and spanish are feeding just off the beaches and falling for trolled Clarkspoons and metal lures that anglers are casting from boats.
Cobia are still around, and anglers are seeing them from boats and hooking a few on cut baits kayaked out from the beaches.
The offshore fleet is still seeing solid caches of gaffer dolphin, with a few yellowfin and blackfin tuna mixed in. The billfish bite has also been solid lately, with boats releasing blue and white marlin while trolling offshore of the inlet.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing plenty of action with grouper and tilefish.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair, reports that surf casters are hooking some cobia (including a 71 pounder) on cut baits casted out from the beachfront.
Some sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, and puppy drum are also falling for baits in the surf zone.
More puppy drum and gray trout are feeding in the sound and biting baits and artificials like gold spoons.
Boaters are also still getting in on the cobia action while casting bucktails and eel imitations to fish they spot on the surface.
The offshore fleet is still hooking big numbers of gaffer dolphin along with a smattering of wahoo and blackfin tuna. Billfish are around as well and biting the same baits that boats are trolling for the meatfish.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking big numbers of gaffer dolphin while trolling the blue water off Hatteras Inlet. Most are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Billfish are feeding slightly further offshore than the dolphin, and anglers released several white marlin last week after they struck naked ballyhoo.
Melinda, of Tradewinds, Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking cobia in the channels in the sound, around the inlets, and along the beachfront. Most have been falling for cut and dead baits in the sound, but anglers are still sight-casting to a few in the ocean and inlet as well.
Offshore trolling is still producing plenty of dolphin and blackfin tuna, along with a few wahoo.
Bottom fishing around wrecks and other structure offshore is filling the fish boxes with triggerfish.
Surf casters are reporting action with sea mullet, pompano, puppy drum, and flounder from the Ocracoke beachfront.
