Hatteras March 28, 2013
Alan Sutton, of Tradewinds Tackle, with a 44″ red drum he caught and released in the Ocracoke surf in mid-March after it inhaled a cut bait.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the first large drum of the year has been caught and released from the beach at Ocracoke. Some southwest winds and warmer water pushing to the beach should lead to more anglers connecting with the big reds on Ocracoke and the southern beaches at Hatteras. Large cut baits on fish finder rigs are the best bets for the big reds.
Skates and dogfish are making up most of the surf catch right now, but anglers at Hatteras are starting to see some pufferfish. The sea mullet shouldn’t be far behind. Shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs will attract attention from both tasty panfish.
The offshore fleet is experiencing some excellent bluefin tuna fishing while trolling and working vertical jigs and topwater poppers around temperature breaks offshore, although the winds have made fishable days few and far between lately.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the surf is still cold and slow around Avon, but anglers are starting to connect with some pufferfish and puppy drum on the southern beaches. When the local water temperatures climb a bit, anglers will see the action move closer to home, and the spring sea mullet bite should begin as well.
Beverly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers caught some bluefish and puppy drum at Ocracoke last week. Plenty of dogfish have been providing most of the action locally, but it shouldn’t be long until rising water temperatures kick off the spring sea mullet and pufferfish bite, along with getting the blues and puppies more active. Shrimp on double-drop bottom rigs will tempt bites from all the surf dwellers.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers now have more to target than dogfish and skates in the surf at Hatteras. Sea mullet, pufferfish, and bluefish have all made their spring appearance, and anglers are hooking both on shrimp pinned to bottom rigs. The dogfish and skates are still around and hungry as well.
Ryan Monsein, of Durham, NC, with a 72″, 225 lb. bluefin tuna that he hooked east of Cape Hatteras while fishing with Capt. Jay Kavanagh on the “Bite Me” out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
The Hatteras Inlet offshore fleet is finding solid bluefin tuna fishing on most days when the weather lets them get out. Trolling skirted ballyhoo, vertical jigging, and casting topwater poppers are all tempting bites from the big bluefins (some to 90”+).
Blue water trollers are also connecting with some dolphin and yellowfin tuna. Bottom fishing and deep-jigging is producing action with amberjacks, snowy grouper, blueline and golden tilefish, and other tasty bottom dwellers.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there’s been solid bluefin tuna action for Hatteras Inlet offshore boats recently, with the best action east of Cape Hatteras. Anglers are hooking the fish (most 200+ lbs.) while trolling ballyhoo, chunking with cut baits, and working vertical jigs.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the first big drum of the year has already been caught and released in the Ocracoke surf. Some warmer water should get the spring bull drum bite going in earnest, and casting cut baits on fish finder rigs is the best way to hook up with one of the big fish from the beach.
Some puppy drum have also been in the mix, and anglers have hooked them on both baited bottom rigs and while working soft plastic baits in recent weeks.
Small bluefish and pufferfish have also shown up and are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and other baits.
As April wears on, sea mullet and some flounder should also be feeding in the Ocracoke surf and taking an interest in anglers’ baits.
