Hatteras May 23, 2013
Sean Boder, of Corolla, NC, with a 75 lb. cobia he hooked off Hatteras Inlet. Photo courtesy of JAM at Teach’s Lair Marina.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that there’s been an excellent slot red drum bite on the soundside of Hatteras Island. The best action has been on southwest winds between Avon and Rodanthe, and cut baits are tempting the reds to bite.
When the surf’s clear in Rodanthe, the sea mullet and bluefish are biting well. Shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs are fooling both fish, and anglers can also hook the blues while working metal casting lures when they’re thick.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of panfish like sea mullet, spot, croaker, and other bottom feeders while casting double-drop rigs into the local surf. Most are falling for shrimp and bloodworms. Pompano are beginning to show up as well.
Bluefish (most 2-3 lbs. but some larger) are falling for bottom rigs and some metal lures off the beaches, and some of the first spanish mackerel of the year have shown up, though they’ve been out of range of surf casters thus far.
Citation-class red drum are taking an interest in cut baits that anglers are casting from Cape Point. Cobia have also begun to make their annual appearance and should only grow more numerous over the coming weeks.
Anglers casting artificials in the sound are connecting with some speckled and gray trout.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some citation-class sea mullet and pompano along with black drum, spot, sheepshead, and more while bottom fishing in the local surf. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are all tempting the bites.
Bluefish are showing up as well, and some large red drum have been caught and released from the beach recently, too. Cut baits are fooling the blues and reds.
Back in the sound, anglers are connecting with some speckled and gray trout along with an occasional puppy drum. Soft plastics are producing most of the action.
Brian, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of sea mullet, croaker, and spot, along with some black drum and sheepshead while baiting bottom rigs with sand fleas, shrimp, and bloodworms.
Some bluefish (many 2-3 lbs.) and puppy drum are taking an interest in cut baits.
Jake Worthington, of Camden, NC, with a dolphin that bit a naked ballyhoo off Hatteras Inlet while he was fishing with his father Jon.
And speckled and gray trout are also feeding around the pier. Anglers are hooking them on Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that things are coming alive along Hatteras’s southern beaches. Surf casters are connecting with decent numbers of citation-class red drum around the point at Buxton, and several cobia have been caught there and at Hatteras. Large cut baits on fish finder rigs are fooling the cobia and big reds.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits on double drop rigs is producing action with sea mullet, pompano, puppy drum, and bluefish.
Surf casters also have seen some spanish mackerel, hooking both them and bluefish while working metal lures quickly from the beach.
Inshore boats are also connecting with cobia and some big red drum while casting bucktails and live baits to bait schools and fish they spot on the surface. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in trolled spoons and metal jigs around Hatteras Inlet and in the ocean nearby.
The offshore fleet isn’t lagging behind either, as there’s been excellent gaffer dolphin fishing all week. Some blackfin tuna, wahoo, and billfish are also striking trolled ballyhoo and lures in the blue water off the inlet. And bottom fishing offshore has also produced some solid catches of grouper, tilefish, and more.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that the gaffer dolphin fishing has been stellar off Hatteras Inlet in recent weeks. Boats are putting together big catches while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures and by bailing smaller fish on squid and cut baits on lighter tackle.
Some scattered yellowfin and blackfin tuna and wahoo are also in the mix with the dolphin, and a few blue marlin are finding their way into trolling spreads as well.
Tom, of Tradewinds, Tackle, reports that anglers have hooked several cobia and some citation-class red drum from Ocracoke’s beaches in the past week. Large cut baits are fooling both.
Sea mullet, bluefish, pompano, and other bottom feeders are biting shrimp and smaller cut baits on two-hook rigs.
Anglers casting bucktails in the sound are connecting with some puppy drum.
