Hatteras October 13, 2011
Bobby McConville, of Carolina Beach, with a 35 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo while he was trolling off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Willie Foster on the "Twin Bills."
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf casters are finding action with plenty of bluefish, smaller puppy drum, and some speckled trout and sea mullet from the local beaches. Cut mullet and shrimp on bottom rigs are producing most of the action.
Some larger slot reds and over-slot to citation fish have been scattered along the northern beaches, with several citations from the Nags Head piers recently. Large cut baits are the way to go for the big reds.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with some sea mullet and black drum from the local beach, mostly on shrimp.
Some scattered puppy drum are in the mix, and anglers have hooked some citation-class reds down at Cape Point recently on large cut baits.
Kristie, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that anglers have been connecting with plenty of bluefish and some red drum (from slot to citation size) around Cape Point lately.
There have also been some puppies reported around Ramp 38. Cut baits have been producing most of the drum action.
Panfish (like sea mullet, spot, and pompano) are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp in the surf.
Claude, of Frisco Tackle, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some black drum, sea mullet, and small pompano from the beach at Frisco. Shrimp are fooling most of the panfish.
Red drum (mostly puppies, but a few big ones) have been reported from Hatteras Inlet and Cape Point over the last week, and cut baits are producing most of the bites from the reds.
No matter what anglers are fishing for, the strong winds and heavy currents have made slack tides the most fishable and productive from the beaches lately.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that Highway 12 has been reopened and visitors can again drive to Hatteras Island, great news for anglers and local businesses alike.
Surf casters are hooking up with some bluefish and puppy drum on the Hatteras, Frisco, and Buxton beaches. A few large red drum have been mixed in, and cut baits are doing most of the damage.
Some sea mullet, black drum, and small pompano are taking interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Hatteras Inlet has been producing a mix of all the other surf species, along with some flounder.
Inshore, there’s been good speckled trout and puppy drum fishing back in the sound.
Offshore, the wahoo and dolphin bite has been good when boats make it out. A few yellowfin, skipjack, and blackfin tuna have been in the mix as well.
Sharon Newbokld with a speckled trout she hooked in the Nags Head surf. Photo courtesy of TW's Bait and Tackle.
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that not many boats have been fishing over the past few weeks due to the difficulty of getting charter parties to the island, but Highway 12 is back open and the fish are biting.
Boats who have been out are reporting an excellent wahoo and yellowfin and blackfin tuna bite while trolling ballyhoo in theGulf Streamoff Hatteras Inlet.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some red drum from the beaches all along Ocracoke Island (most puppies and yearlings, but a few citation-class fish lately). Cut baits are producing most of the action with the reds.
The big drum are flushing out of the sound. Boats fishing the inlet shoals are hooking some big numbers, so it should only take a wind shift (SW ideally) to bring the citation-class reds to the beach in better numbers.
Plenty of bluefish (some to 4 lbs.) are mixed in with the reds, and both are biting cut baits.
Fishing with shrimp in the surf is producing some action with sea mullet and black drum.
Back in the sound, anglers have reported some solid speckled trout fishing while casting Gulp baits and shrimp. Flounder are feeding in the sound, but not many anglers have been fishing for them lately.
