Hatteras/Ocracoke – October 10, 2019
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers have been finding some large pompano (up to 3.25 lbs.) while fishing sand fleas and shrimp just off the sand. Also from the surf, bluefish and good-sized spanish mackerel (up to 3.5 lbs.) are hitting casting jigs thrown to surface-feeding fish.
Speckled trout are working their way out of the sound and into the surf, with a few being landed by anglers working soft plastics in deeper holes and sloughs early in the morning.
Red drum are being caught on the beaches with Carolina-rigged fresh mullet.
Sound-side anglers are finding great numbers of speckled trout while working soft plastics on jig heads and under popping corks.
Shannah Harrell with a sheepshead caught using cut bait at Mann’s Harbor.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that puppy drum (up to 28”) are hitting cut baits. Bottom fishing with shrimp has been producing pompano, croakers, sea mullet, and the occasional black drum.
Sheepshead are being landed by anglers fishing baits along the pilings.
Bluefish have been schooled up well, with bait all around the pier. Gotcha plugs and glass minnow jigs cast to bait balls are getting strikes.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers casting bottom rigs in the surf are having great success on Rodanthe area beaches. Large pompano, sea mullet, and black drum are falling for sand fleas and fresh shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are hitting Stingsilvers, Hopkins spoons, and glass minnow casting jigs from Buxton down through Frisco. Spotting surface-feeding fish attacking bait balls has helped locate fish and raise the hookup percentage.
Spots are being landed off Avon Pier by anglers fishing with bloodworms.
Speckled trout are being caught in good numbers from deeper holes and banks in the sound. A few fish are being caught surf-side, but the water is still a bit warm to start seeing the big push of trout to the beaches.
Kristen, of Avon Pier, reports that a few speckled trout are being landed early in the day by anglers fishing deeper holes just behind the breakers.
Bluefish are coming in in good numbers on Gotcha plugs.
Spot and pompano are falling for bottom rigs with bloodworms, shrimp, and sand fleas.
Red drum are around, and before the last heat wave, some over-slot fish were being caught on Carolina-rigged mullet. The winds shifting to the NE should see the return of a few big reds.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bottom fishing for sea mullet and pompano has been very good, with anglers having success while using a wide variety of baits. Shrimp, mullet, sand fleas, and bloodworms have all been getting action when fished in deeper holes between the sand bars.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are running in the surf and feeding on bait balls in the area. Spotting these surface feeding frenzies and casting glass minnow and Diamond jigs into the action has been getting strikes.
Sound-side anglers are finding a great speckled trout bite while fishing Gulp soft plastics on jig heads in deeper channels and along ledges. A few slot-sized red drum are mixed in. The reds are also on the flats on the higher tide cycles.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that surf anglers are having hot action with bottomfish in the area. Sea mullet, large pompano, black drum, flounder, and slot red drum are feeding on cut baits and fresh shrimp.
Inshore anglers have been enjoying a great speckled trout bite while fishing soft plastics, such as Z-Man grubs on Big Eye jig heads. Using a popping cork is helping anglers as they search the banks and ledges for these smaller groupings of fish. Gray trout and bluefish are mixed in.
Sheepshead are hitting fiddler crabs and urchins fished along pilings, docks, and channel markers.
Offshore trips have seen a great push of wahoo arriving. Blackfin tuna and mahi are mixed in the counts. Both are hitting ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing anglers are returning to the dock with boxes full of snapper and triggerfish.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that speckled trout action has been great and should only get better as the month progresses. Casting 1/4 oz. jig heads matched with Z-Man soft plastics have been productive when worked along the ledges in the sound. Recently, Trout Tricks in fried chicken and new penny with chartreuse tails have been the hot colors.
A good amount of puppy drum (up to 16”) are mixed in the same areas, and they’re hitting jigs and cut baits.
Bluefish (2-5 lbs.) are in the deeper channels hitting just about any type of bait fished around them.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that wahoo action has been non-stop, with anglers finding good numbers to pair with the few citations mixed in. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are in the mix, and the next few weeks should see more consistency in the tuna numbers.
Mahi are in the daily counts, with some days anglers stumbling onto double-digit numbers. Also, a few sailfish releases were made in the last week.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that wahoo have been biting well out at the break while pulling ballyhoo. A few citation-class fish are mixed in, and this month should continue to see great numbers.
Mahi (both gaffers and bailers) are mixed in, with anglers pleased to find double-digit numbers on some days. Sailfish are also hitting baits in the spread.
Bottom fishing is producing snapper and triggerfish.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that wahoo anglers are landing multiple fish in the 40 lb. range while trolling at the break.
Mahi fishing has been awesome for this later part of the season. On some days, only a few are landed, but the next day there will be non-stop action.
Blackfin tuna are in the mix, with some trips finding double-digits of these fat fish.
Bottom fishing has been great for anglers looking for a bunch of meat. Triggerfish and snapper in particular have been plentiful for anglers dropping cut baits.
King mackerel are staged up around these same bottom fishing areas.
Tradewinds Tackle is closed as Ocracoke Island continues to recover.
