Hatteras/Ocracoke – April 2023
Nicole, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers are starting to see better numbers of the early spring species as (hopefully) weather patterns return to more seasonal norms. Bottom fishing with shrimp has produced sea mullet, blowtoads, and puppy drum.
Cut baits are also producing some puppy drum action, as well as dogfish sharks.
With the weather stabilizing, it can be any day now that the large red drum start to move into the area. The Point is typically one of the most popular locations to find this first wave. Usually all it takes is the right moon cycle or a wind direction change to fire off the bite.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers fishing with shrimp and Fishbites bait strips are catching blowtoads and sea mullet.
Red drum action has started to pick up, and if weather patterns will cooperate, we can start seeing the spring bite really improve. There are smaller puppy drum (18” range) feeding on the flats throughout the sound, but most of the red drum action is on the surf side.
Anglers around Buxton have found both well-fed yearling schools and puppy drum in holes along the beach. This bite will continue to get better going into April as water temperatures warming up get these fish moving more.
Brandon Elinich, of Black Pelican Custom Rods, landed this red drum on fresh mullet while surf fishing from Ramp 55 on Hatteras Island.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that March did its typical thing by throwing some late cold fronts our way as we tried to kick off spring. These patterns didn’t help much in bringing more fish in, but the good news is that April tends to see conditions stabilize and ocean temperatures will slowly tick up.
Surf anglers are having success working the beaches to find schools of puppy drum holding in the deeper pockets. There are groups of larger reds also around, with anglers looking forward to the citation class fish that tend to show up over these coming weeks of early spring.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing better numbers of sea mullet and scattered smaller bluefish.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that blackfin tuna have made up a majority of the offshore fishing action. It has been a nice class of fish, and based on reports from the south, the occasional wahoo may be mixed in.
The cold fronts that moved through in recent weeks have had an effect on keeping some cooler water temperatures around, and this has also held some bluefin tuna in the area.
Nearshore anglers haven’t seen much action as they await the arrival of the spring migration of large, citation-class red drum.
Inshore anglers have been finding some sheepshead and black drum while bottom fishing around deeper structured areas. Shrimp makes a good bait choice for both species.
Surf fishing is slowly starting to pick up. April tends to have more mild conditions, and this will bring more fish into the area. Bottom fishing will remain the best bet for a while, with anglers finding mostly red drum and sea mullet.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that with cold weather still so present on the coast, many anglers have focused their efforts on targeting the western sound areas for quality striped bass action. There fish are in their spawning patterns and pushing up the mainland rivers in good numbers.
This action also includes some phenomenal shad fishing for anglers rigged with light weight tackle setups and small grubs. For Eastern North Carolina anglers, this fishery brings a great opportunity to see a lot of catching action through these cold, typically slow, offseason months.
Back at the coast, anglers look forward to mild weather patterns becoming more of the norm now that we are moving into April. The winter holdover speckled trout and puppy drum will slowly start becoming more active as water temperatures move up. For the time, the best bet is to target these fish in their same winter holdover areas.
Anglers off the beach are looking forward to the large red drum moving in from offshore as they work the coastlines and start to push in through the inlets.
Buster Nunebaker, of Nags Head, caught this red drum using cut mullet while fishing from the Hatteras surf.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that winter temperatures decided to visit again in recent weeks, and this really stunted the push of the fishery moving into spring.
Tuna fishing remains the top target for anglers finding a window to run out of the inlets. Blackfin tuna are the main prize for anglers, with most finding that the tuna caught are a really good quality in size.
The bluefin tuna haven’t fully moved on yet, with scattered large fish still ripping line from some of the spreads.
Yellowfin tuna haven’t made any strong showings yet, but anglers are optimistic that once conditions turn for the better and spring patterns continue, the yellowfins will present.
The first mahi of the year could be showing up around early to mid-April. This is very dependent on how quickly these schools move up from the south.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that red drum fishing on the island has been pretty good, with anglers finding a good number of fish in the 32” range. Soaking cut mullet in the larger shoreline holes is best for enticing strikes from these schools as they roam around looking for a meal.
The cut mullet will also garner strikes from both smaller dogfish and larger sharks mixed throughout the area.
Fishing smaller natural baits (such as shrimp or artificial Fishbites) is producing sea mullet, pufferfish, and smaller puppy drum.
