Hatteras November 17, 2011
Steve, Gil, Pat, Dorsey, Billy, and Roy, of Charleston, SC, with 15 yellowfin tuna, 19 blackfins, and a pair of wahoo they landed while trolling ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Jay Kavanagh and Mate Jeremy Hicks aboard the charter boat "Bite Me."
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the strong northeast winds lately have slowed the local surf bite, but the moderating weather should have the suds turning back on over the coming week.
The speckled trout bite is still on from the beaches and piers up at Nags Head and to the north, and anglers are also connecting with a few specks around the Oregon Inlet rocks. Soft plastics are tempting most of the trout bites.
Scattered red drum (from puppies to citation-size) are still being reported around Cape Point and in the hook. Large cut baits are tempting the drum bites.
Anglers are also putting some sea mullet in their coolers around the point and southern beaches. Shrimp on bottom rigs are attracting their attention.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the bite’s been a little on the slow side lately, but anglers are still hooking a variety of fish from the beach. Sea mullet, small black drum and puppy drum, and some flounder have been falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits from the surf.
The weather has slowed the red drum bite from the beaches lately. The water temperature is still 64 degrees, though, so anglers may well see some more action with the big reds before they leave the area for winter. In the meantime, large sharks and rays are keeping anglers fishing cut baits on drum rigs busy.
Dan, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing a few citation-class red drum in the surf at Cape Point. The best chance of hooking one seems to be at night lately, and large cut baits are the way to go for anglers hoping to hook a big red. Some puppy drum are also taking an interest in baits, but the puppy action has been a little better at Ocracoke.
The speckled trout bite has been solid in the surf lately, with anglers finding fish both north and south of Cape Point. Soft plastics and MirrOlures are tempting bites from the trout.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some black drum and sea mullet on shrimp in the surf.
Zachary (left) and Mark Smith with a 23" red drum caught in the Frisco surf on cut mullet.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, black drum, speckled trout, and a few flounder from the Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras beachfront. Shrimp on bottom rigs are producing the black drum and mullet, and most of the trout and flounder (along with a few puppy drum) are taking an interest in soft plastics like Gulp baits.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still excellent (with plenty of citation fish to 80+ lbs.). Many days have also been producing solid catches of yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and some dolphin, blue and white marlin, and sailfish are still feeding in the blue water off Hatteras Inlet, too. Skirted and naked ballyhoo are producing most of the action with the Gulf Stream species.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that the wahoo bite has been between consistent and excellent lately off Hatteras Inlet, and anglers are starting to see some solid numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna as well. A few dolphin and straggler billfish are still in the mix, and all the blue water predators are falling for trolled ballyhoo, either naked or under sea witch-style skirts.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that speckled trout and puppy drum (along with plenty of small bluefish) are producing most of the action for surf casters recently. Both are biting baited bottom rigs and a variety of artificial lures.
Some large drum are still in the area. Anglers are hooking them while fishing just off the beaches in boats, so the right winds could bring them back into the surf.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are catching some stout triggerfish, and trollers have reported some sailfish action recently.
