Added on Thursday, June 23, 2016  Fish Post

Hatteras – June 23, 2016

Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are catching soundside puppy drum on the bottom on cut mullet. When there’s a southwest wind and the ocean is mucked up, head to the soundside in the evenings with a traditional chunk rig, and use 3 or 4 oz. sinkers to get a little better distance and carry throwing into the wind.

There’s also been quite a few trout caught on cut bait, although anglers are doing better using popping corks with soft plastics. Head out in the mornings and evenings, and target grass flats by wading in, or via a boat or kayak.

Out in the surf, anglers are catching blues and spanish when the water has been clear in the mornings and evenings. There have also been flounder, sea mullet, and puppy drum, as well as a few pompano, floating around.

At the Bonner Bridge, anglers are catching flounder and sheepshead around the bridge pilings.

Joe, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers have been catching spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs when the water has been clear. There have also been sea mullet and the occasional flounder, as well as a couple of small cobia caught, with larger cobia spotted off the pier.

 

Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers all along the Hatteras Island beaches have been catching sea mullet and bluefish, with a few weighing in at up to 14 lbs. Anglers are also catching spanish mackerel on Stingsilvers off the beach and on Gotcha plugs off the pier.

Small cobia have also been reported along the beaches.

Heather, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers have caught bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs all the way out at the end of the pier. The big bluefish and spanish have been in the 4-5 lb. range, and the bite has been best around sunrise and sunset when the temperature cools down, especially during high tide.

Mahi have also been caught off the pier, along with pompano and sheepshead.

 

Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching bluefish, sea mullet, pompano, and red drum along the Frisco and Hatteras beaches, as well as cobia and a few trout in the sound. Anglers are using bloodworms, shrimp, menhaden, or mullet for bait, and they are also digging up sand fleas along the surf to use for bait as well.

 

JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that there are still lots of cobia being caught by inshore and nearshore fishermen. The cobia have been caught in the Hatteras Inlet on anchor, and they are also being caught by sight casting near the beach.

Inshore anglers are also catching drum of all sizes, from pups to citation.

Along the beaches, there have been a number of citation pompano catches up to 4 lbs. Many of these have been off of Ramp 55 in Hatteras.

Offshore fishing has been a mixed bag, with blue marlin, sailfish, mahi, and blackfin being caught.

 

Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that the red drum fishing in the flats has picked up, and anglers are using gold spoons for the slot to over-slot reds in the grass. Flounder fishing is also improving (most on Gulp baits), and big speckled trout have made an appearance, including several in the 6+ lb. range. Inshore anglers are also catching small gray trout.

Big bull reds have been found outside the inlet, and there’s been plenty of spanish on Clarkspoons when it’s calm enough to get into the ocean.

 

Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there have been lots of dolphin caught, with large schools being spotted just 5 miles offshore. Recent offshore catches also include blackfin tuna, snowy grouper, bonito, spanish mackerel, and sailfish.

 

Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching sea mullet and bluefish all along the Ocracoke beaches in the dirty waters on Stingsilvers. As the water clears up, anglers can expect to see bigger bluefish and spanish along the oceanside shoreline.

In the sound and nearshore waters, anglers have been catching spanish and cobia, and a 36 lb. cobia catch was recently reported near the inlet.