Hatteras/Ocracoke – July 2022
Jeremy, of Hatteras Jack, reports that a few red drum are being caught in the surf, especially on the beaches from Oregon Inlet to Rodanthe.
Bottom fishing anglers are catching some nice-sized sea mullet and smaller bluefish.
Sound side anglers have been finding speckled trout and red drum on both natural baits and topwater plugs. With a lot of dirty water around, those anglers fishing natural baits (both cut bait and live) have had most of the success.
Brad, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that summertime weather patterns have bottom fishing dominating the action. Anglers have been catching a mixed bag of sea mullet, pompano, and spadefish while rigged up with fresh shrimp, sand fleas, or artificial bait strips.
Anglers fishing cut baits have landed puppy drum and some sharks.
A few bluefish are being seen in the area, and as water temperatures rise over the coming weeks, expect to see more bluefish schooled up around the pier.
Patrick Dain (age 10) caught this 31″ puppy drum while fishing from Rodanthe Pier.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that red drum are being caught up and down the beaches. Anglers are landing both slot and just over-slot fish while bottom fishing with fresh cut baits. Areas around Ramp 38 are still producing good action even with the beach nourishment in progress.
Sea mullet are coming in strong for anglers fishing with fresh shrimp or sand fleas.
Spanish and bluefish are showing up in the counts from local piers. Anglers are catching both species on metal lures, with some bluefish hitting cut bait. A few of these schools are moving within casting range of surf anglers around ramps 32, 38, and 43.
Some sharks and rays are also being caught off the piers.
Large pompano have started to move into the area, with anglers finding success fishing with sand fleas or Fish Bites in the E-Z Flea flavor.
Speckled trout fishing has been pretty good in the sounds, with a few citation fish weighed.
Griffin, of Avon Pier, reports that there have been a few nice speckled trout being caught by anglers fishing the deeper holes behind the breakers with fresh shrimp or artificial shrimp or swimbaits.
Bottom fishing has mostly been producing sea mullet for anglers fishing shrimp or sand fleas on bottom rigs.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that the beaches from Ramp 43 to Ramp 48 have been seeing really good bottom fishing action. A variety of whiting, pompano, croakers, and some spot are all being caught while fishing fresh shrimp or sand fleas.
Down around Ramp 55, anglers have been finding schools of bluefish and some spanish mackerel to be pushing within casting distance of the sand.
Sharks, both blacktips and spinners, are scattered in the action up and down the beach. Anglers looking for this bite are having the most success with fresh cut mullet or menhaden.
Sound side anglers have been catching quite a few large speckled trout both early and late in the day.
Puppy drum fishing has been getting better with warmer water temperatures and bait now pushing inshore.
Terry, of Teach’s Lair, reports that plenty of mahi have started being caught from anglers running offshore. A good number of blackfin tuna are also scattered in the daily offshore counts.
Surf anglers are having a lot of success with sea mullet and pompano while fishing deeper cuts between the sandbars.
Schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel are pushing closer to the beach in the late afternoons, with anglers having the best success while casting metal spoons at these schools.
Fishing back in the sounds has produced red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that speckled trout fishing has been excellent throughout the sound. Anglers are having a lot of success casting 3” Z-Man paddletail soft plastics, with the natural color patterns working best.
The spanish mackerel bite has been good around the inlet, along with mixed schools of bluefish. Both trolling spoons and casting Stingsilvers to the surface-feeding frenzies has produced most of the action.
The cobia bite has changed over from sight-casting at cruising fish to cut bait fishing with menhaden on the bottom, but good numbers of fish are still being caught.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing has really picked up. It’s been a good mix of larger, gaffer-sized fish and slingers being caught while trolling through all the scattered grass in the area.
Scattered blackfin tuna are also in the daily catches, and some anglers have been lucky enough to land a few of the large wahoo still hanging around.
Brian Whitehurst, of Kill Devil Hills, caught this bigeye tuna 45 miles offshore oot of Oregon Inlet on a pink and orange squid chain/bird combo. He was fishing with Capt. John Berquist of DrumBeat Charters.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that summer fishing has turned on, with many trips seeing great action on bailer-sized mahi. Favorable weather windows have allowed anglers to catch double-digits of fish while both trolling and casting cut ballyhoo or squid at schools suspended under offshore flotsam.
Billfish have shown up right alongside the dolphin, with both big blue marlin and white marlin mixed in the daily counts.
Linda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that puppy drum have been plentiful on the beaches.
Some schools of spanish mackerel are moving within casting distance, especially early in the mornings before things get busy.
Nice pompano are starting to be more plentiful for anglers fishing smaller fresh shrimp or sand fleas in close to the shore.
Soundside anglers have been finding some good-sized sheepshead while fishing around pilings and other hard inshore structures.
Soft plastics and live bait fished on the flats are producing large speckled trout.
