Hatteras – October 27, 2016
Mike, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the puppy drum fishing has been on fire along the beaches. Anglers are also catching bluefish in the surf, as well as scattered trout which have just started to make an appearance along the oceanside.
The puppy drum have been regularly caught on MirrOlures and Gulp soft plastics, but they have been hitting live bait, too.
On the soundside, anglers are connecting with nice-sized speckled trout, the occasional pompano, and stripers have started moving back into area waters with more consistency.
Anglers fishing the inlet have landed trout in the 20”+ range, and they are falling for soft plastics or MirrOlures.
Riley Stokes with a trout caught while fishing with his grandfather, Capt. Sam Stokes, in the Pamlico Sound near Oregon Inlet. Photo courtesy of TWs Tackle.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association’s drum tournament has just finished up along the Hatteras Island beaches, with many large citation fish reported. The largest drum clocked in at 49”, and twelve citation drum were landed between Ramp 38 and Ramp 23.
Other surf anglers have found puppy drum, sea mullet, and bluefish.
Kyle Berry, of Nags Head, with a 46.25 red drum. He took second place on Day 3 of the NC BBA Red Drum Tournament out of Frank and Frans Tackle.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are catching scattered sea mullet and a few red drum along the beaches in Hatteras Village, and there have been puppy drum caught along the shoreline in Avon.
In the soundside, anglers are catching a lot of slot-sized puppy drum.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that anglers are catching dolphin offshore, as well as sailfish and amberjack.
Along the beaches, fishermen are reeling in puppy drum here and there, as well as some spots. Inshore, anglers are catching drum of all sizes.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that recent offshore trips are resulting in large numbers of yellowfin tuna, as well as a good dolphin bite.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are catching a number of large red drum in the 44-46” range, as well as scattered puppy drum, black drum, and sea mullet.
Anglers on the pier have primarily been using bloodworms and shrimp for bait.
Debbie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are catching a mixed bag of species including speckled trout, gray trout, and puppy drum (with a few citation drum here and there).
Additional reports include bluefish, pufferfish, spot, and several keeper-sized flounder.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the fishing along the Ocracoke Island beaches has been outstanding, with some of the best catches and fishing conditions reported all year. Anglers are regularly reeling in drum of all sizes, as well as small but keeper-sized black drum along the shoreline.
In addition, there have been plenty of sea mullet catches and flounder that are mostly in the 15” to 16” range, but some flatties have been reported as big as 23”. Anglers are using jig heads and soft plastics for the flounder, but everyone is using cut mullet across the board for bait (as well as the occasional shrimp and artificial lures).
The drum fishing in the inlet has been incredible, with anglers reeling in a multitude of drum, including a number of citation-sized fish.
