Hatteras October 24, 2013
Tony Kazulen with a 20″ speckled trout that fell for a soft plastic bait while he was fishing the Pamlico Sound with JAM’s Adventures Kayak Fishing.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the fall red drum action is in full swing, and anglers are hooking reds (from puppies to citation-size) in both the surf and sound. The action has been up and down the length of the island, with most fish falling for cut baits and finger mullet.
There’s also been plenty of panfish action in the surf, with anglers putting spot, sea mullet, pompano, and other bottom feeders in their coolers. Shrimp and bloodworms on double-drop rigs are producing most of the action.
Surf anglers are also hooking big numbers of bluefish on a variety of baits and lures.
Flounder are feeding in the inlets and surf, and they’re biting strip, live, and soft plastic baits.
Jamie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of puppy drum from the pier while bottom fishing with shrimp, cut baits, and more.
Those fishing large cut baits off the end of the pier are connecting with a few citation-class red drum.
Some bluefish, spot, sea mullet, and pompano are also feeding around the pier, and they’re falling for shrimp and bloodworms.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there’s been plenty of action with puppy and larger drum in the surf from Rodanthe to Hatteras. Most are falling for cut mullet.
Bottom fishermen are hooking black drum, sea mullet, and some smaller spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers casting live and cut baits or soft plastics in the sound are connecting with good numbers of puppy drum and speckled trout, along with a few large red drum.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that the puppy drum bite is on in the surf of Hatteras’s south-facing beaches. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are tempting bites from the pups.
Anglers are also starting to see some speckled trout action in the surf, and the specks have been biting cut baits as well.
Some flounder are also around and biting strip and live baits along with soft plastics.
Scott Talbot, of Dallas, TX, with a 17″, 1.72 lb. sea mullet he hooked on a sand flea from Outer Banks Pier.
Panfish like pufferfish, spot, bluefish, and more are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are seeing puppy drum, bluefish, spot, sea mullet, and black drum while fishing from the local beaches. Shrimp, sand fleas, bloodworms, and cut baits are all appealing to the fish in the surf.
Inshore boats are hooking plenty of red drum and speckled trout on natural baits and artificials.
The Hatteras Inlet offshore fleet is still seeing big action with wahoo while trolling both skirted ballyhoo and baitless high-speed lures along the break. There are also still good numbers of bailer and gaffer dolphin around, with boats hooking limit catches on some days.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing solid catches of tilefish and some triggerfish.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent fall fishing off Hatteras Inlet right now. Dolphin are still around, and boats are hooking solid numbers on many days. There’s still a good wahoo bite as well, and some yellowfin and blackfin tuna and king mackerel have been finding their way into the fish boxes lately as well. Blue marlin and sailfish are still around, too, so anglers shouldn’t rule out a billfish encounter amidst the meatfish action. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling all the blue water predators.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that offshore trollers are still connecting with big numbers of wahoo while trolling ballyhoo off Hatteras Inlet. Sailfish are also in the mix, and many boats are pulling back into the docks with a release flag or two flying. A few dolphin and blackfin tuna continue to be in the mix and are falling for the same baits.
Inshore, there’s still red-hot puppy drum fishing in the sound and around the inlet, with both soft plastics and live and cut baits producing action. Some flounder and speckled trout are also taking an interest in the plastics and live baits.
Surf casters are reporting incredible puppy-drum fishing, with some losing count of the number of fish they’ve released. The larger citation-class drum are still feeding to the north but should make their way to the local beaches as the water continues to cool.
Plenty of bluefish are still around and biting surf casters’ baits, but the big fall choppers haven’t shown up yet.
Cody, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with red drum (from puppies to citation-class) from the Ocracoke beachfront.
Sea mullet and a few pompano are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Inshore, there’s been decent action with gray trout and some flounder in Wallace Channel.
