Hatteras/Ocracoke – Aug 2, 2018
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that bluefish are feeding well on Carolina-rigged cut baits in the surf. When the fish are busting bait at the surface, throwing casting jigs to the fish are producing bites as well.
Before the recent rains, good-sized pompano were being caught on the Frisco beaches. As the weather stabilizes and the cleaner water moves back in, the reports should trend upward. Sand fleas on bottom rigs are the best setup for these fish.
Flounder are being caught by anglers bouncing Gulp soft plastics (with a 1/4 oz. jig head) between the sandbars.
Sea mullet and croaker are biting well for anglers fishing fresh shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs.
A couple red drum have been caught off the beach on cut mullet.
Ken, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that large numbers of sea mullet and croaker are being caught on shrimp fished under a bottom rig.
Bluefish have still been caught on Gotcha plugs, but with the dirty water, cut baits fished on the bottom are producing more fish.
Erin White with a 34″ red drum that she pulled out of the surf near ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf anglers are finding good numbers of sea mullet while bottom fishing with sand fleas and shrimp. The water has been very churned up with all the recent storms, so finding a good slough between the sandbars has really helped anglers keep their baits in place.
Bluefish are being caught on Carolina-rigged cut mullet, and Pompano are being caught on Frisco area beaches.
The area’s piers have been reporting large numbers of all the bottom fish (sea mullet, spot, and croakers) biting on fresh shrimp fished on the bottom. Anglers look forward to the cleaner water pushing back in and bringing the spanish mackerel with it.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing with shrimp is good for sea mullet and spots. Bluefish have been biting on cut baits and Gotcha plugs farther down the pier.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that spot and croaker have been feeding well for anglers bottom fishing in the surf.
Some larger sea mullet are being caught alongside the spot, and they have tended to prefer fresh shrimp.
The occasional bluefish is being caught on bottom rigs, and calmer surf should have the schools following the bait in close.
Puppy and slot-sized red drum are being caught in the surf on cut mullet under a Carolina rig.
A few flounder are being reported, and numbers should go up as more anglers get out and fish.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that wahoo fishing has really picked up offshore. A lot of boats have come in with multiple large fish (to 44 lbs.), with even more hookups being lost at the boat.
Dolphin fishing continues to be good on days the boats get offshore. Quite a few gaffer and a lot of bailer fish are going home in coolers.
White marlin and sailfish are still being reported and released on trolling trips.
Nearshore trips have been catching king mackerel and barracuda.
Close to the surf, spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught by anglers trolling Clarkspoons and casting to feeding schools. As the clean water pushes back in, the sight fishing action should pick up.
Citation red drum (to 48”) are being caught by boats fishing larger cut bait in the inlets. A bunch of upper-slot fish are mixed in as well.
Inshore trips are finding red drum and some speckled trout early in the mornings.
Surf anglers are finding the bottom bite to be best right now, with good numbers of croaker and sea mullet being caught on shrimp. Anglers using sand fleas have mixed in a few pompano catches.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel that are coming within casting distance are biting metal glass minnow jigs.
Brittany Cahoon with one of nine citation red drum pulled over the rails in one day out of Oregon Inlet.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that large wahoo have been the highlight of recent trips. The wahoo are hitting baits both trolled on top and down deep under the rigger.
Dolphin fishing has been good, with a bunch bailer fish feeding under all the scattered grass, and a couple blackfin have been caught out in the Stream.
Closer nearshore, some schools of king mackerel have provided quick action to anglers fishing dead bait rigs.
Some trips are seeing multiple bites from sailfish on their skirted ballyhoo lures.
Marlin numbers haven’t been great, though, with boats finding it hard to fish targeted areas that are covered in grass. A more consistent weather pattern will bunch that grass right back up.
Bill, of Predator Sportfishing, reports that wahoo have made a strong showing early this year, with multiple good-sized fish being caught.
A bunch of mahi are still offshore, and when the weather has cooperated, anglers are hooking into both gaffer and bailer-sized fish.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing continues to be good offshore for both gaffer and bailer-sized fish. They’ve loved all the scattered grass cover to hang under.
Large wahoo have been a great addition to the counts.
Billfish are still around, and as the weather cooperates, the billfish counts should continue to go up.
Bottom fishing the area has produced large numbers of triggerfish and vermilion snapper.
Closer to shore, anglers are catching large amberjacks, as well as spanish mackerel (when the water has been cleaner).
Ken, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that sea mullet and croaker have been feeding well even with all the dirty water around. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs works great for these fish.
Bluefish are biting glass minnow jigs that are cast towards the feeding schools.
Pompano have been caught on sand fleas right at the first drop-off.
