Hatteras/Ocracoke – May 9, 2019
Jam, of Hatteras Jack, reports that bluefish have been biting very well on the Rodanthe area beaches, with Rodanthe Pier reporting fish on just about every cast.
The first cobia of the season was caught at the Point on a large Carolina-rigged cut bait.
A few citation-sized drum are being caught at the Point, too, though the bite has slowed down as the fish work their way into the inlets.
Sound-side anglers are finding puppy drum on flats around the inlet, and legal-sized speckled trout are holding in deeper water around oyster beds.
Nearshore anglers were very pleased to catch good numbers of cobia on the opening day of their season. Sight-casting larger bucktails with 5-6” soft plastic trailers is the most successful rig when searching out these fish.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that good-sized bluefish (3-6 lbs.) have been schooled up well around the pier. Anglers are catching these fish while casting glass minnow jigs and Gotcha plugs as they feed on the surface.
Sea mullet are being caught with shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
A few speckled trout (to 17”) have hit soft plastics worked closer to shore.
Dustin Carpenter, of Raleigh, NC, proudly shows off a citation red drum that fell for cut mullet. He was surf fishing the Point in Buxton.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that some good-sized pompano and sea mullet are being caught in Avon with bottom rigs.
A few large sheepshead (to 8 lbs.) have been mixed in with these bottom fish.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are being hooked with casting jigs as they feed on baits closer to the beach.
Nearshore anglers are finding a few schools of citation-sized red drum while sight fishing around bait schools.
Cobia have moved into the area, and sight-casting bucktails is the most productive method to getting hook-ups.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are hitting jigs and trolled Clarkspoons.
Kristen, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are catching good numbers of sea mullet and blow toads.
Bluefish are feeding on the surface, and Gotcha plugs are getting bites.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that sea mullet and pufferfish are being landed on bottom rigs.
Some large pompano (to 2 lbs.) made a showing this week and are best caught in deeper sloughs along the shoreline.
Large bluefish (to 33”) are being hooked on Carolina-rigged cut baits.
Smaller (2-3 lb.) bluefish are around and hitting glass minnow jigs thrown towards feeding schools.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that wahoo are being found in good numbers in the Gulf Stream, with most fish hitting ballyhoo fished behind a planer.
Yellowfin and large blackfin tuna are hitting skirted baits around temperature breaks.
Dolphin have made a strong showing in recent days, with boats reporting double-digit numbers of fish.
Nearshore boats are focused on sight-fishing for cobia that are in the area. Casting 2-3 oz. bucktails towards cruising fish is a favorite method of local anglers.
Over-slot red drum are being hooked while bottom fishing large cut baits in the inlet.
Speckled trout and smaller bluefish are holding in deeper channels and ledges in the sound.
Surf anglers are dong very well while fishing bottom rigs. A good variety of sea mullet, blow toads, black drum, and sheepshead all being reported by anglers using shrimp as a primary bait.
Citation-sized pompano are being caught on smaller baits fished tight to shore.
Bluefish are feeding well in the surf zone, and anglers are having the most success by casting jigs to the schools.
A few larger bluefish (to 8 lbs) are being caught at the Point.
Red drum have been feeding well in the area, with all sizes of fish from slots to citation-size being landed on cut mullet.
A few false albacore are hitting casting jigs at the Point.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that bluefish are thick in the area, and casting glass minnow style jigs to feeding schools is a productive method to catching good numbers.
Red drum are being found in the inlet with cut mullet.
Cobia are being reported in the area, and sight-casting 2 oz. Meathog and Bowed Up bucktails with soft plastic trailers is the best tactic.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that the bluefish bite has been strong, with close to triple-digit numbers of fish being caught on casting jigs and trolled spoons.
Red drum continue to push inshore, and anglers have caught some citation-sized fish while soaking large Carolina-rigged baits in the inlet.
Puppy drum are staging up on the flats just inshore of the inlet, and casting soft plastic paddletails works well in getting hits.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that mahi fishing is beginning to turn on, with some trips easily finding double-digit numbers of fish.
Some citation-sized blackfin and larger yellowfin (to 50 lbs.) are mixed in the counts.
Billfish are being spotted in the area, and a few have been raised to skirted ballyhoo trolled around the temperature breaks.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that dolphin fishing has been good, with anglers catching close to limits on some days while trolling naked and skirted ballyhoo around weed lines.
A few larger blackfin tuna are being hooked on kite rigs.
Yellowfin tuna are mixed in offshore, and they’re hitting skirted ballyhoo.
Fishing baits behind a planer has been productive for anglers targeting large wahoo in the area.
A sailfish was released recently, and anglers are reporting seeing billfish in the area.
Closer to the beach, some smaller king mackerel are hanging around live bottoms.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that good-sized mahi have shown up, with anglers finding double-digit numbers of fish while trolling ballyhoo.
Large blackfin tuna and yellowfin tuna are mixed in with the mahi.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that red drum have been biting well, with some larger citation-sized fish (to 49”) being caught around Ramp 72 on cut baits.
Large bluefish (to 35”) are hitting cut baits off the beaches, while the smaller blues are better caught with casting jigs.
Nearshore boats are finding schools of citation-sized red drum near the inlets.
Offshore anglers are catching yellowfin tuna, mahi, and wahoo while trolling skirted baits.
