Hatteras/Ocracoke – September 26, 2019
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that Rodanthe-area beaches have been seeing a nice speckled trout surf bite. Soft plastics fished on double “trout rigs” have been the top producing setup.
Pompano and sea mullet are mixed in the deeper holes just off the sand, and they’re hitting fresh shrimp and sand fleas.
Casting jigs to surface-feeding schools of fish has been producing bluefish.
Inshore anglers are working deeper holes and areas around oyster beds to catch speckled trout.
A few puppy drum are mixed in, mostly coming off soft plastics bounced along the bottom.
Brad Arthur with a wahoo caught aboard the “Big Tuna” out of Hatteras Inlet.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Speckled trout have made a nice showing, with the early and late hours having the most action. Some days have been seeing the trout being pulled in by the twos.
Bottom fishing has been producing sea mullet, pompano, and a few sheepshead, and puppy drum are hitting Carolina-rigged cut mullet.
Trevor Lodge, from Chesapeake, VA, with a 36″ red drum caught sight casting to a school of drum using a white bucktail. He was fishing near the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers fishing the Rodanthe-area beaches are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish while casting jigs off the beach.
Good-sized pompano are being caught on sand fleas fished on bottom rigs and small Carolina rigs. Sea mullet are being caught further south (around Buxton).
Red drum are hitting cut baits from Salvo down to the Point. A few over-slot fish have been mixed in, but the majority has been in the lower-slot range.
Anglers fishing the local piers have been finding a good spot bite while fishing shrimp.
Kristen, of Avon Pier, reports that spot and sea mullet are being caught in great numbers by anglers that are bottom fishing. Pompano are mixed in with the bottom fish catches, though fishing closer to the beach has raised the bite percentage for the pomps.
Good-sized black drum are hitting fresh shrimp, and red drum fishing has been very good in the past week, with over-slot drum (up to 42”) being caught by anglers fishing larger Carolina-rigged fresh cut mullet.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that pompano are being caught by surf anglers casting sand fleas out into the deep sloughs off the beach.
Bluefish and a few spanish are being hooked in the mornings with casting jigs.
Anglers fishing the sound have been finding good numbers of speckled trout.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that surf anglers have been catching good numbers of red drum around ramp 55. Carolina-rigged cut mullet is the hot bait, with some anglers having 20+ bites in a day.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are coming inside the breakers with the bait schools. Fishing in areas with less crowds and the morning hours have helped bite numbers.
Bottom fishing is producing pompano and sea mullet.
Inshore anglers have been casting glass minnow jigs to bluefish and spanish mackerel schools holding in deeper channels just inside the inlet.
Speckled trout fishing has begun to pick back up with the water settling down. Popping cork rigs with soft plastics are productive when working the edges of flats and deeper ledges searching for the schools.
Offshore trips are still finding pretty good numbers of mahi. Large wahoo are out at the break, too, and some steady weather should see an increase in numbers.
Bottom fishing has been producing black sea bass, triggerfish, and snapper.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that a great mix of gaffer and bailer mahi are chewing, with many anglers finding themselves bringing home limits.
Large wahoo and bigger blackfin tuna are in the mix. They’re both hitting skirted baits.
King mackerel are showing, though they have been very scattered.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that some large cobia are in the area for anglers sight casting bucktails. A few over-slot drum (up to 43”) are mixed in just off the beach and in the deeper channels inside the inlet.
Bluefish are schooled up well around the inlet, and they’re hitting casting jigs.
The speckled trout bite has been tough in the past week, likely a result of the waters just settling after the storm and recent high winds.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that offshore trips just starting back up after the storm are pleased to find the fish hadn’t moved too far.
Good numbers of large wahoo are hitting skirted ballyhoo out at the current breaks, and a few yellowfin tuna have been mixed in, and they’re hitting the same trolled ballyhoo.
Sailfish are in the area, and they have been a welcome surprise to anglers looking for great fights and citations.
Nearshore trips are catching limits of large spanish mackerel (up to 5 lbs.).
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that large wahoo (up to 50 lbs.) are being caught on skirted baits. Double-digits of mahi are mixed in, with weed lines being great in helping to target the fish.
Citation-sized blackfin tuna and large king mackerel are also all a part of the daily fish counts.
Bottom fishing has been great, with vermilion snapper and large triggerfish being the most common catches.
Tradewinds Tackle is closed as they help their fellow island neighbors recover from the storm.
