Hatteras – May 26, 2016
Mike, of Hatteras Jack, reports that there have been a few blues caught off the beach and off the Rodanthe Pier on cut bait, and drum are coming in off the Hatteras Village beach by the inlet.
The sound waters in the tri-villages have been quiet, but anglers are starting to catch speckled trout in the sound waters by Bodie Island on jigheads.
Guy Michaelson with mahi, blackfin tuna, and a wahoo he caught while fishing with friends aboard the charter boat Bite Me with Capt. Jay Kavanagh.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the fishing has been a little slow, but there have been sea mullet, blues, gray trout, and flounder caught up and down the Hatteras Island beaches, as well as a few pompano off of Buxton when water is clear. Fishermen are using shrimp, finger mullet, and bloodworms for bait, but they are having the best luck off the beaches with sand flea Fishbites
Justin Morrison, of Salisbury, NC, with a 27 red drum he caught near Ramp 55 in Hatteras. The fish fell for a fresh shrimp.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that there have been sea mullet, spanish, and bluefish caught along the south side of the Point on sand fleas and shrimp. The fishing has been the most active two hours before and two hours after high tide, and most of the recent catches have been reported on the beaches south of Buxton.
Blake Michael, of Poquoson, VA, with a 116.2 lb. cobia he landed while fishing with Bryan Nester.
Mike, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore anglers have been catching king mackerel, white marlin, sailfish, spanish mackerel, and lots of dolphin. There have also been a couple of big drum and cobias in the sounds off of Hatteras Inlet, and several big drum off the beach in Hatteras Village.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that red drum have been showing up inshore near the grass flats, and spanish mackerel and cobias have been thick nearshore as well.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there have been blackfins caught on structure, and blue marlins have been spotted and caught in deep waters of around 600’.
Mahi have been everywhere offshore, especially around the weed lines, and they have been averaging around 10-15 lbs., with the gaffers coming in at 25-30 lbs. or more.
Denise, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a few under-sized flounder, whiting, and lots of sea mullet in the 1.5 lb. range. Anglers on the pier are having the best luck with sand flea Fishbites, and the sea mullet have been hitting frozen shrimp as well.
There was also a recent report of a 20 lb. black drum caught off the beach adjacent to the Avon Pier.
Joe, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that there have been a lot of blues and sea mullet, as well as a few undersize and keeper flounder. The blues are being caught when the waters are clear and calm, and the sea mullet have been showing up in the afternoons on windy days when the ocean waters are a bit rougher.
Anglers are having solid luck with all varieties of bait, including Fishbites, shrimp, and bloodworms.
There has also been an occasional red drum, but not on a regular basis.
Ken, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching a lot of cobia from boats in both the Hatteras and Ocracoke inlets, and there have also been spanish mackerel catches in the inlets and just off the beaches.
In the surf, anglers are reeling in sea mullet, bluefish, puppy drum, and gray trout, and there are still a few big drum hanging around in the 36-46” inch range (including both red and black drum).
Good numbers of 2 lb. pompano are being caught in the surf, and anglers are having the best action two hours before and one hour after high tide.
Offshore, a recent tournament brought in wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin catches, despite being hampered by weather. Charter boats have also been bringing in lots of dolphin and wahoo.
