Scott, of The Fishin’ Hole, reports that anglers haven’t been able to do any surf fishing in recent days due to the high seas. There’s been a bit of action on the soundside of the island, however. Some slot and over-slot red drum have been feeding off the back of the island, and they’re biting cut baits and finger mullet. Some speckled trout have also been taking an interest in anglers’ drum baits.
Before the ocean cranked up last week, there was some surf action with bluefish and slot and over-slot red drum.
The Greene family, of PA, with a big haul of dolpin and a half-dozen blackfin tuna they hooked while trolling off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Jay Kavanagh on the “Bite Me” out of Hatteras Harbor Marina.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are finding some red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish in the creeks and on the flats on the soundside of the island. They’ll all bite cut baits or finger mullet, and anglers may be able to fool the specks on soft plastics fished under popping corks.
Some sea mullet and croaker are also biting shrimp and smaller baits in the sound.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers haven’t seen much action in the surf lately due to the rough water. As the ocean calms down, the storm will likely have pushed finger and corncob-sized mullet out into the ocean which could trigger excellent fall fishing for red drum, bluefish, and more.
There have been some slot and over-slot red drum and a few speckled trout landed in the sound behind Avon in recent days.
Bev, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers were seeing some action with large red drum at Cape Point and from the local beachfront before the wind and sea rose last week. As the water calms down from the storm, the fish will likely be feeding in the same places and biting large cut baits on the bottom.
Some sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish were also biting in the surf before the blow.
The red drum action in the sound remains good, with most of the fish falling for baits like mullet.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers have been kept from doing much surf fishing in the past few days as high tides and heavy swells have closed most of the island’s beach access ramps.
Before the weather got too bad, surf casters were seeing some action with sea mullet and other panfish. Bluefish, flounder, and puppy drum have been mixed in around Avon. Anglers are hooking most of the smaller fish on shrimp and Fish Bites baits, with cut baits and finger mullet fooling most of the larger surf species.
When anglers were last able to fish inshore in the Pamlico Sound, there were still good numbers of red drum (from slot-sized fish to citations) and bluefish on the feed. Both are biting baits like cut mullet and artificial lures like spoons.
Hatteras Inlet’s offshore boats were able to fish one day last week, finding an excellent dolphin bite along with some blackfin tuna and wahoo. Most of the blue water fish are biting ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that anglers are connecting with some slot and over-slot red drum while fishing inshore in the Pamlico Sound. The reds will bite live and cut baits or a variety of artificial lures.
Offshore fishing has been good on the few trips that boats have been able to make with the high winds and seas recently. Dolphin, wahoo, and blackfin and yellowfin tuna are all feeding in the blue water off Hatteras Inlet, and anglers are hooking them on skirted ballyhoo. A few billfish are still in the mix as well, and one boat released a sailfish last week.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that anglers were finally able to make it into the ocean and fish a day last week, and the fall meatfish bite seems to be heating up when boats can get the weather to fish. Big numbers of gaffer and bailer dolphin are around and biting trolled ballyhoo or squid and chunk baits that anglers toss to fish near the boat. The blackfin tuna action has also been heating up on the troll.