Hatteras – May 21, 2015
Scott, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, croaker, bluefish, and a few red drum (most over-slot but some keepers)while surf fishing Hatteras Island’s northern beaches. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling the majority of the fish.
Gary Hall and Robert and Alex Pink landed these 30, 53, and 46 lb. cobia while sight casting off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Aaron Kelly of Rock Solid Charters.
Kelly, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers have seen some good action with red drum in the past week (with some slot fish but most over). Cut baits are fooling most of the reds.
Bluefish, pufferfish, and some gray trout have also been finding anglers’ baits.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet, spot, croaker, pufferfish, and a few early pompano while bottom fishing in the surf around Avon. Some larger (2-5 lb.) bluefish have shown up as well. Shrimp, cut baits, and Fish Bites are producing most of the action.
Anglers soaking large cut baits around Cape Point are connecting with some red drum and an occasional cobia.
Bev, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bluefish, pufferfish, pompano, sea mullet, and puppy drum are all turning up in the local surf at present. Most are falling for cut baits, shrimp, and bloodworms.
Anglers casting Gulps and soaking cut and live baits in the sound are hooking puppy drum and flounder.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of hungry dolphin while trolling off Hatteras Inlet. Solid numbers of blue marlin are around as well, and both fish are falling for rigged ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures. A few tuna and white marlin have also found their way to the boat’s baits in the past week.
Jeremy, of Calypso Charters, reports that blue water trollers are seeing the spring dolphin bite in full swing off Hatteras Inlet at present, with big numbers of gaffers taking an interest in ballyhoo and trolling lures in the boats’ wakes. A few tuna and wahoo are mixed in with the ‘phins.
Billfish have also shown up in excellent numbers, with big numbers of blue marlin releases for local boats, as well as scattered white marlin and sailfish.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet, puffferfish, croaker, and bluefish while surf fishing from Avon to Hatteras. Some pompano and puppy drum are in the mix along the southern beaches. Shrimp, cut baits and Fish Bites are producing most of the action with the surf species. Anglers are also hooking some bluefish while working metal lures from the beachfront.
Inshore boats are connecting with red drum (many citation-class fish) and cobia (to 70+ lbs.) while sight-casting and bait fishing around Hatteras Inlet.
Offshore action has been excellent in recent days, with plenty of gaffer dolphin, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, and wahoo all making their way into the fish boxes. Billfish have shown up in numbers as well, and boats released quite a few blue and white marlin over the past week. Most of the offshore pelagics are falling for skirted ballyhoo, but large trolling plugs are also favorites for the marlin.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that cobia have shown up in a big way off Hatteras Inlet, and most boats chasing them have found multiple fish in recent days. Sight-casting bucktails to cruising fish and around bait pods has been producing the majority of the action with the cobes.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also feeding near the inlet and falling for metal trolling and casting lures.
Surf casters are hooking large sea mullet and pompano along with plenty of bluefish and some red drum (ranging from puppies to citations).
Offshore trollers are finding plenty of action with gaffer dolphin (some 40+ lb. citations), and there’s also been an excellent blue marlin bite over the past few days (with dozens of releases and some fish 600+ lbs.).
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking solid numbers of red drum (from slot fish to 40”+) while soaking baits from the Ocracoke beachfront. Most are falling for cut baits.
There’s also been plenty of action with the big reds for anglers fishing from boats around the inlets and the sea side of the surf zone.
Cobia have shown up around Hatteras and Ocracoke inlets, and decent numbers have been caught in the last week.
Offshore trollers are finding plenty of action with dolphin along with a few wahoo, tuna, and billfish.
