Hatteras/Ocracoke – December 2022
Nicole, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers bottom fishing with bloodworms have been able to hook into some sea mullet and blowtoads.
Carolina rigs with chunks of cut mullet have been producing smaller sharks.
Anglers getting out to the nearshore reefs are finding them loaded up with aggressively feeding black sea bass.
Capt. Mark McGuire, of Reel Em In Charters, caught this 45″ red drum on cut mullet from the Hatteras surf. Photo courtesy of Hatteras Jack.
Debbie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishing helped anglers carry out a strong finish to the end of the season. There was a mixed bag of blowtoads, black drum, some bluefish, a couple sheepshead, and puppy drum around.
There was also a lot of sea mullet being caught on cut shrimp and artificial bait strips.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that bottom fishing anglers can still find some decent action out on the beaches as the water continues to cool. Catches of sea mullet, blowtoads, and the occasional bluefish are all a part of the mixed bag catches.
A bunch of smaller sharks are being caught along most of the island’s beaches, and anglers at the Point have found scattered citation-class red drum and sharks.
Harry, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has produced most of the action now that the water is cooling and the season is coming to an end. Anglers have been catching sea mullet, blowtoads, and scattered bluefish.
Smaller sharks are also in the mix, and they’re feeding on cut baitfish.
Ian, of Teach’s Lair, reports that inshore anglers have been able to find speckled trout, smaller puppy drum, and scattered bluefish as cooler water temperatures settle into the area.
Surfside, anglers are having some success while casting bottom rigs, with a mixed bag of blowtoads, puppy drum, and black drum around.
Out at the Point, anglers casting cut baits have been catching sharks and a handful of red drum.
Offshore fishing is starting to be solely dependent on weather windows to get out. King mackerel are one species that anglers are having success with when they’ve been able to make a run. Some citation kings are mixed in with a generally larger size of kings being landed.
Blackfin tuna are staged up over the offshore structured areas for anglers looking to run some trolling or jigging trips.
Moving into winter, anglers looking just to get a line wet in the surf should be able to find sea mullet, blowtoads, and the occasional puppy drum.
Outside of the inlets, some boats may go looking for a giant bluefin tuna, if the fish make a run into the area similar to years past.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that Hatteras area anglers have seen a strong close to the end of the season as water temperatures fall out. Red drum, sheepshead, and bluefish all provided a great fall bite in the sound. There are still scattered sheepshead around for anglers fishing sand fleas or hermit crabs around hard structures.
Red drum have mostly been feeding on cut mullet. These early winter reds have typically been more scattered than the larger schools they usually have already moved into by this time of year.
Bluefish are staged up on structures inside the inlet and along the beachfronts, or around wrecks a little further on the outside.
Moving into winter, many anglers turn their focus to the striped bass fishery that can flourish through these cool months. Stipers can currently be found around bridges up north and will continue to push across the sounds towards the mainland river systems. By mid-February, the full-blown shad run starts, followed by the striped bass spawn. Both fisheries provide great opportunities to catch a bunch of fish when most other anglers choose to stay in.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that there continues to be some good trolling action for anglers taking advantage of the weather windows. The bite has mostly consisted of a nice class of larger blackfin tuna alongside scattered wahoo, king mackerel, and late season mahi.
The Shoupe family and friends, of Newland, NC, caught these blackfin tuna by trolling ballyhoo offshore of Hatteras. They were fishing with Capt. Jeremy Hicks of Calypso Sportfishing Charters.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that weather patterns have been tough to deal with, but offshore fishing has been phenomenal when the windows have opened up.
A bunch of good-sized king mackerel are being caught while slow-trolling live baits, and blackfin tuna are also mixed in this live bait bite.
Out on structure in the Gulf Stream, there have been some chunky blackfin tuna, wahoo, and scattered yellowfin tuna. All these species have been striking at the classic rigged ballyhoo and Sea Witch skirt combo.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that with cooler beachfront water temperatures, bottom fishing has produced most of the action. Some black drum and sheepshead (all 3+ lbs.) have been the primary catches.
A scattered bite of larger pompano (to 1.5 lbs.) were also a surprise part of this late season action.
Red drum will continue to be scattered along the beaches throughout the winter. The landings will likely be mostly shorts, but the action should include a few nice-sized ones caught sporadically.
