Hatteras/Ocracoke – July 5, 2018
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that sea mullet and spot have been caught in good numbers by surf anglers fishing bloodworms or sand fleas on a bottom rig.
Pompano are biting well, even with the recent push of dirty water.
Schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel are working back and forth outside the breakers, and they’ve often been within casting distance of surf anglers.
Flounder are being found in sloughs by anglers fishing soft plastics.
Sheepshead have moved into the sounds. Look for them around bridge pilings and channel markers.
Ken, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish have been biting well at the end of the pier. Anglers have been watching for the passing schools and working Gotcha plugs through the feeding fish with great success.
Lots of sea mullet and spot are feeding on shrimp.
A good number of flounder are being reported by anglers fishing bottom rigs and artificial baits closer in to the breakers.
A couple of stray cobia are still being caught off the end of the pier by anglers awaiting the king mackerel to move in.
Brittney Bair with a 10.2 lb. citation sheepshead that she weighed in at TW’s Bait and Tackle in Nags Head.
Tim, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf fishing has been good for anglers fishing with sand fleas on bottom rigs. Both sea mullet and pompano have been keeping reels busy, even with all the recent dirty water.
Sight casting the surf for tailor bluefish has paid off well for anglers ready with glass minnow-style metal jigs.
Schools of spanish mackerel have also been cruising within casting distance in the early mornings.
A few flounder are being caught in the sloughs. The best action has come off of bait shrimp and soft plastics.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers sight casting for schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish have had great success using Gotcha plugs and glass minnow jigs.
Good-sized sea mullet are being caught on bottom rigs using shrimp or sand fleas.
Flounder are being landed in good numbers, too, but a majority of the fish have been shorts (only going 13”).
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that surf fishing action is centered around the strong pompano and sea mullet bite.
Anglers rigged with glass minnow jigs are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel early and late in the day. Fishing away from the crowds has been key.
A couple of puppy drum have been landed by soaking cut baits in both the surf and sound, and sound-side anglers are also catching flounder.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that mahi fishing has been solid out of Hatteras, with easy limits of bailer and gaffer fish coming on many trips.
The billfish bite has been really good, too, with blue and white marlin releases being produced around current breaks. Good-sized blackfin tuna are also being reported in daily counts.
Wreck fishing for triggers has been “wide open,” with a bunch of amberjacks mixing in the drops.
Citation-sized red drum (to 48”) are still feeding on Carolina-rigged cut baits in the inlets.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been awesome, with tons of fish schooled up around the bait balls just offshore. A couple of larger bluefish have been mixed in with all the spanish.
Andrew Crese and Capt. Andrew Campbell, of “The Flying Fish,” with a 55″ king mackerel that was caught speed jigging with a Hopkins lure on medium-light spinning tackle near Cape Lookout.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that citation red drum are being caught around the inlet.
Inshore anglers are finding legal flounder and puppy drum around drop-offs in the sound.
Large spanish mackerel are being caught while trolling and casting to schools cruising just off the beach.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing has been great. Huge numbers of bailers and a few gaffer-sized fish are making quick limits on most trips.
Sailfish and white marlin are hitting baits and plugs out in the Stream.
Bill, of Predator Sportfishing, reports that bailer and gaffer dolphin have been biting very well on recent trips. Some of these mahi have been as close as 10 miles offshore.
A few large yellowfin have been hitting skirted baits around the current breaks offshore.
Billfishing has been good, with a few blue marlin and a bunch of sailfish being caught.
In addition, citation wahoo have made a strong showing in recent weeks.
Wreck fishing is great for triggers and grouper, with the tackle-ripping amberjacks always around.
Recent bonus fish have included scorpionfish, blackbelly rosefish, and a few blue runners. They’re all coming off live bottoms.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that the mahi bite is awesome. Great numbers of bailer and some gaffer mahi are being caught around weedlines.
The current break has pushed far offshore as of recent (40 miles), but the strong billfishing action (sails, whites, and blues) has made the trips worth it. This has already been a great year for white marlin and sailfish.
Ken, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that the sea mullet and pompano have been biting very well in the surf.
A couple of puppy drum have been feeding on cut baits.
Schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel have been coming within casting distance for surf anglers.
