Hatteras/Ocracoke – April 2025
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that red drum action on the beaches has started to pick up. The better action so far has been towards the southern part of the island, but if this stable weather sticks around, the red drum will quickly be moving further up the island.
Sea mullet and blow toads are also trickling in, and both species should make a good showing in April.
Soundside water temperatures are still a bit cold, but the earliest red drum have started moving in over the flats.
Ryan, of Reel Em In Charters, reports that red drum are slowly starting to show up in the area, with this action predicted to improve in April. Any warmer weather patterns will really help move the bite along.
Anglers should start focusing on structures (such as bridges), as the black drum are beginning to move in. The sheepshead won’t be far behind, with both species feeding on shrimp or crabs.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers targeting holes from Avon down to Frisco have been catching some puppy drum on cut mullet, with fish up to 34” in the mix.
Anglers fishing the same chunks of fresh mullet are also picking up skates and dogfish sharks.
Surf anglers are now seeing some early season sea mullet and bluefish caught. Both of these species will start showing in better numbers in April, if more stable weather patterns and water temperatures keep ticking upwards
Anthony, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that surf anglers have seen good puppy drum action all along the Hatteras beaches and out to the Point. Carolina or fish finder rigs and fresh cut mullet has been best.
The Point also recently produced an uncommon 32” striped bass.
Sea mullet have been starting to show up. They are scattered across the beaches alongside a bunch of dogfish sharks.
Nicole Rawdon, of Rodanthe, landed this 99″, 600 lb. bluefin tuna off of Cape Hatteras. She was fishing with Capt. Lee of Haley Adyson Sports Fishing.
Kristie, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that the puppy drum bite has been picking up now that fish are beginning to push onto the beaches.
Some nice-sized sea mullet are also showing up as the water temperatures tick up. Both the drum and mullet action should only get better, especially if the area stays on this trend of more stable weather patterns.
Offshore anglers are still catching some bluefin tuna, and now a couple of blackfin tuna are in the mix.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that anglers are still finding the occasional bluefin tuna around, though the focus has turned to yellowfins and blackfins. The tuna action should really be kicking off moving further into April.
Not too far after the tuna bite starts, anglers will begin looking for the earliest signs of mahi.
Surf anglers in Hatteras have seen the action pick up, with puppy drum and some sea mullet showing up on the beachfront.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers have their attention focused on the upcoming striped bass migration happening on the western edges of the sound. For now, these fish are still holding around structure before pushing into the mainland rivers for the spawning run.
On the Hatteras side of the sound, water temperatures remain on the cooler side, and anglers will be watching out for signs of red drum to be moving in from the ocean and staging up on the inshore flats.
Around this same time, the schools of big red drum show up off the Hatteras Island beaches.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that anglers are still waiting on these cooler water temperatures to turn and bring the nearshore area alive. A good sign is some schools of puppy drum are starting to show up on the flats inside the inlets, and hopefully that means the big drum schools aren’t far behind.
Bluefish catches are trickling in, and the blues typically appear in better numbers around the same time that the large red drum show.
With water temperatures where they stand, it’ll likely be a little bit before anyone is thinking about cobia. Every year is different, though, and anglers should keep a close eye on the reports as the cobia usually show up in full force when they do.
Jason Hall, of Princeton, NC, caught this speckled trout near New Bern using a MirrOlure 17-MR. He was fishing with Capt. Jack Jackson of FinChasersUSA Charters.
Peter, of Wann Sportfishing, reports that the inshore action is just starting to get going now that red drum are moving into the area. Anglers have had success targeting flats and areas of warmer water around the inlet for this 20-30” class of fish.
Local anglers look forward to the schools of big drum starting to push into the nearshore area. Typically, the area sees them arrive sometime in April, with Easter usually being a good date to aim for.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that anglers are still finding bluefin tuna in the area, though the bite has really become a mix of fish that are either 40 lbs. or complete giants, neither of which you can keep right now.
Next, the fleet will focus efforts towards blackfins and yellowfins.
The first early season mahi can start arriving as early as mid-April.
Jeremy, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching a lot of red drum. The sizes vary, with most being puppy drum, but over-slots with the occasional big drum are mixed in. Fresh cut mullet, shrimp, and even the frozen stuff are all having success. The low light hours of morning and dusk have been the most productive.
The island saw some bluefish show up. For now, the majority of blues are smaller, but larger blues are mixed in and the larger fish become more common as more fish move in over the coming weeks.
Some dogfish sharks are around for those anglers fishing cut baits.
