Hatteras May 24, 2012
Gary Monticue and Randy Dolton, of Stahlstown, PA, and Anthony Scalzo, of Glen Burnie, MD, with a 75 lb. cobia that bit a sight-cast bucktail near Hatteras Inlet while they were fishing with Capt. Steve Gwin of Hang-On! Charters out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Dalton, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are catching bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working metal lures like Gotcha plugs from the piers. The recent weather cooled the water and slowed down the spanish bite, but they should be on the feed again when it calms down and warms back up a few degrees.
Surf casters are also hooking up with some blues, along with sea mullet, spot, and other bottom feeders. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the fish from the sand.
Sheepshead have begun to show up around the Bonner Bridge, and anglers are starting to catch a few on sand fleas dangled close to the pilings.
Tammy, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers are hooking up with good numbers of sea mullet and smaller bluefish while casting baits in the Avon surf.
More sea mullet and some larger chopper blues are feeding in the surf around Frisco. A few puppy drum have been caught in the area as well.
Shrimp and cut baits will tempt bites from the sea mullet, bluefish, and puppies.
Some smaller speckled trout are beginning to feed in the sound, and they’ll take an interest in soft plastic baits.
Kristin, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with sea mullet and spot on shrimp and other baits pinned to double-hook rigs.
Some bluefish are taking an interest in metal lures worked from the pier.
Dr. Paul Conley, of Summersville, WV, with one of several gaffer dolphin that he landed on the fly rod while fishing the Gulf Stream with Capt. Jay Kavanagh and mate Jeremy Hicks aboard the "Bite Me" out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers have been connecting with some large chopper bluefish from the surf at Frisco and Hatteras in recent days, mostly on cut baits.
Fat pompano have also been in the mix (many 2-3 lbs.) and biting sand fleas. Sand fleas also produced some huge sheepshead (to 13 lbs.) for lucky surf anglers over the past week.
Some spot, sea mullet, and croaker are falling for sand fleas and shrimp in the surf.
Back in the sound, anglers are finding action with some bluefish, trout, and flounder while working soft plastic baits. Spot and croaker are falling for baited bottom rigs.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf anglers are hooking some sea mullet and pompano on the Frisco and Hatteras beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas will fool the tasty bottom feeders.
Some large and smaller bluefish have also been mixed into the surf catch.
Inshore boats are catching plenty of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while trolling small spoons.
Gray trout and large red drum releases have also been rewarding inshore boaters. Cobia have been hit-or-miss, but some boats have had excellent days while sight-casting bucktails to cruising fish.
Offshore, boats fishing the Hatteras Village Offshore Open found a decent blue marlin bite along with some gaffer dolphin and blackfin tuna.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the gaffer dolphin bite has been stellar in recent days, with anglers catching all they care to (50+ fish some days). Ballyhoo, squid, strip and chunk baits, artificial lures, and even flies have been attracting plenty of attention from the gaffers. A few billfish and wahoo are mixed in with the dolphin and falling for the same baits.
Dom, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that despite the recent winds, surf fishermen have been catching some chopper bluefish and a few drum (from puppies to 30-40” yearlings) from the Ocracoke surf over the past week. Cut baits will tempt bites from both.
Sea mullet are taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on bottom rigs in the surf.
Not many boats have been out lately due to the weather, but at last report a few yellowfin tuna and plenty of gaffer dolphin were biting in the Gulf Stream.
