Hatteras May 26, 2011
Sam Toms with a 69 lb. cobia he hooked while sight-casting bucktails with TW's Bait and Tackle employee Carey Foster.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack’s Bait and Tackle, reports that cobia have made their way around Cape Hatteras, and anglers landed several (including a 98 pounder) on Avon Pier last week. Boaters may well be able to find the fish cruising just offshore and hook them while sight-casting bucktails, and surf anglers may have some shots at the cobes in the coming weeks as well.
Along with the cobia, warmer water has spanish mackerel active along the beaches and inside Oregon Inlet, where anglers have been catching them while trolling Clark and Drone spoons and casting metal jigs like Shore Lures and Stingsilvers.
Surf casters have been catching bluefish in a variety of sizes (some to 10+ lbs.) on metal lures and baited bottom rigs.
A few puppy drum and sea mullet have been mixed in with blues along the surf, and anglers on the southern beaches have been connecting with decent numbers of pompano (and some large ones) in the breakers. Now is the time for anglers to find soft shell sand fleas on the beaches, and they’re some of the best available baits for the pompano and mullet.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with some puppy drum in the sounds, and the crabbing has been fantastic lately.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the bluefish bite has been excellent from the surf and piers lately (with some fish 10-15 lbs.). Both baited bottom rigs and metal casting lures have been appealing to the blues.
Flounder (with many keepers) and sea mullet have been rounding out most of the surf catch over the past week.
Cobia are moving up the beach, and several were landed from Avon Pier last week. Both live baits and dead or cut baits on the bottom will appeal to the cobes for anglers fishing from the beach and piers.
Bryan, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent pompano fishing in the surf on the southern beach (with fish up to 4+ lbs. weighed in last week). Shrimp and sand fleas will appeal to the pompano in the breakers.
Anglers are also picking up good numbers of bluefish (many in the 5 lb. range), some puppy drum, and some keeper flounder in the surf.
Cobia are around the inlets and the shoals off the cape, but the bite isn’t quite the legendary one anglers experienced last year. Still, sight-casting to fish with bucktails and large plastic trailers is producing a good number of citation-class cobes.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is picking up for boats making the run to blue water. A few yellow and blackfin tuna are still around, and anglers are seeing a decent billfish bite materialize as well (with sailfish and white and blue marlin releases last week).
David Carangi with a 4 lb., 3 oz. pompano he caught in the Cape Hatteras surf. Weighed in at Frisco Rod and Gun.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the cobia bite has been excellent lately (with some fish approaching 100 lbs.). Most boats are connecting with the cobia while sight-casting to fish cruising the inlet and cape shoals and feeding on schooled up bait.
Surf anglers had a good week with some mega-chopper bluefish (to 18 lbs.) on baited bottom rigs and metal lures.
Good numbers of sea mullet and some citation-class pompano have been striking bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas in the surf.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been excellent in the sound. Fish Bites Xtreme paddletail grubs in pearl white have been the best baits lately, and bouncing them along the channel edges is the way to hook up with the flatfish.
Offshore, boats are returning with good numbers of dolphin and some citation-class wahoo, and the billfish bite is kicking off for summer, with decent numbers of sailfish and white and blue marlin released in recent weeks.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that live-baiters fishing on the end of the pier landed a pair of cobia (including a 98 pounder) last week, along with numerous chopper bluefish (most 8-12 lbs.). Bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs have been fooling good numbers of the chopper blues.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and croaker, but the bite’s a little slower than it’s been in previous weeks.
Kathleen, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are landing good numbers of bluefish from the planks. Sea mullet, black drum, and plenty of sharks and skates are rounding out the catch.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are still catching plenty of bluefish from the island’s beaches (some 8-12 lbs.). Baited bottom rigs and metal casting lures will attract attention from the blues.
Sea mullet have shown back up along the beach as well, and they will take an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms.
Some spanish mackerel have been landed by anglers casting metal lures from the beaches over the past week, and boaters are catching good numbers while trolling along the shoreline.
Inshore, bottom fishermen have landed several cobia lately in Blair Channel on cut baits.
The offshore boats have been returning back to the dock with some gaffer dolphin, wahoo, and tuna.
