Hatteras/Ocracoke – October 2022
Ian, of Hatteras Jack, reports that there has been plenty of finger mullet schools running back in the sound, and this has the fall fishing fired up.
Red drum are being caught by anglers working flats around the inlet, and deeper holes in these same areas are also holding some good-sized speckled trout.
Flounder season has been a success, with plenty of good-sized flatfish.
Surf anglers have been seeing strong numbers of spanish mackerel pushing within casting distance of the beach, and closer to the shoreline, bottom-rigged sand fleas are producing pompano.
Fishing cut baits has been generating a few big red drum, and these big ones are mixed in with plenty of slot-sized fish. Red drum fishing overall (both surf and in the sound) has been the top target of most anglers.
Debbie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing sea mullet, decent-sized pompano, and plenty of “right on the keeper line” sized flounder.
Anglers enjoyed a run or two of big drum (to 43”) while fishing the choppy waters, and anglers set up off the end have also seen a few cobia moving by (but no hookups yet).
Quite a few puppy drum are still around for anglers bottom fishing with fresh cut baits.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there has been a good run of bluefish being caught on metal casting jigs.
Anglers fishing smaller bottom rigs with sand fleas have landed some pompano, and bottom fishing has been producing quite a few red drum.
Many of the local piers, and a few lucky shoreside anglers, have seen some runs of citation-class red drum.
There have been quite a few sharks being caught by the same anglers targeting the reds with larger cut baits.
Soundside fishing has been picking up, with anglers catching a variety of bluefish, speckled trout, flounder, and red drum.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that there was a nice run of false albacore at the pier, with anglers catching 30-40+ fish throughout the day.
There are schools of spanish mackerel breezing by the pier for anglers rigged with casting jigs, and loads of bluefish are mixed in the sight casting action.
Bottom fishing has been producing smaller pompano and decent sea mullet (to 1 lb.), and a few scattered keeper flounder are being caught each day.
There has been a strong run (or two) of over-slot red drum, especially with stormy water.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that casting metals out at the Point has been producing false albacore, spanish, and plenty of bluefish.
Anglers fishing from Frisco up through Avon are finding good puppy drum action scattered just about everywhere.
Smaller bottom-rigged sand fleas or shrimp is producing sea mullet and some pompano.
During certain tides, anglers are finding spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore pushed within casting distance on this stretch of beach.
The local piers have been having a great few runs with the big drum, as they’ve just started pushing through in good numbers.
Good-sized false albacore (to 10 lbs.) have also been breezing by the piers for anglers sight-casting jigs.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore trips have continued catching scattered wahoo mixed in with blackfin tuna, and some anglers have stumbled upon some floating grass that’s still holding good numbers of bailer-sized dolphin.
Closer to the beach, trolling is producing spanish mackerel and false albacore.
A few speckled trout are in with the action for anglers fishing grass banks near flats, but red drum action is the hot ticket. Anglers are catching both puppy drum on the flats and bigger “bull” reds in deeper holes around the inlet.
Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish are plentiful in deeper cuts just inside the inlet.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that cobia fishing has been great, with anglers having success both sight-casting and bottom fishing for them as they migrate back through the region.
Inshore anglers are finding the speckled trout and red drum action very good since the waters have started to cool down. Artificial baits are working great, with Z-Man 3” paddle tails in pinfish color patterns being a recent go-to choice. Moving into October, the inshore action only gets better as these cooler waters trigger bait migrations and have the fish less sluggish in their feeding patterns.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that pulling high-speed setups on the way out and between spots has produced a few good-sized wahoo.
Blackfin tuna action has been steady, with a surprise yellowfin or two mixed in the counts, and some trips have found good groups of bailer and gaffer-sized dolphin.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that wahoo action has been getting pretty good as we move into fall. Skirted ballyhoo works great, as well as some big strikes while running high speed lures. Anglers targeting wahoo have the best chance of landing fish when rigging their baits with wire leaders.
A few scattered blackfin tuna are in the mix.
Some trips are still finding bailer-sized mahi schooled up under floating grass or debris. A little cut squid is great for getting this bite fired up on light tackle.
There are some sailfish releases as well, with warm water not yet pushing billfish out of the area.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the bluefish bite has been wide open, with larger fish (to 30”) hitting casting jigs thrown at the surface-feeding frenzies.
Puppy drum action in the surf has been best both early and late in the day. The bite has been spread out just about everywhere along Ocracoke Island (not just at the points).
A few scattered flounder are also mixed in the surf action, and bottom fishing with fresh shrimp or sand fleas has produced some black drum and pompano.
Soundside fishing has been picking up, with anglers starting to catch the big red drum while working deeper holes inside.
