Hatteras – September 14, 2017
Blake, of Hatteras Jack, reports that puppy drum have made a strong showing in the surf. Cut mullet and shrimp have been the best baits. Sea mullet and pompano have also been feeding well in the suds, and those tossing out sand fleas and bloodworms on bottom rigs have had the most success.
Spanish have been feeding just off the beach and in range for most surf casters. Casting Stingsilvers has been the ticket to landing quality fish.
In the sound, the early morning bite has been best for puppy drum and speckled trout. Most anglers have had success casting soft plastics under popping corks (as well as topwater lures).
Sheepshead have been feeding well around area bridges. Dropping live fiddler crabs or sea urchins along the pilings has produced the best numbers of fish.
Hugh Howell with a 9 lb. speckled trout that was caught using a Century rod. He was fishing with a Mulletron-colored Z-Man soft plastic soundside near Hatteras.
Leslie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that blues and spanish have been feeding well in the morning and evening hours. Tossing Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers has worked best.
Those fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms have caught a variety of bottom fish. Pompano, sea mullet, spot, croaker, and a few flounder have all been landed.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports puppy drum have shown up in the surf in good numbers, and anglers have had the most success using fresh cut mullet on the bottom.
Spanish and bluefish have also been schooled up and feeding on bait pods. Tossing Stingsilvers and other metal jigs from the beach has hooked anglers into plenty of action. Those fishing fresh shrimp and sand fleas on the bottom have connected with sea mullet, croaker, and flounder.
On the sound side, the speckled trout and puppy drum bite is still going strong. Anglers tossing live shrimp and soft plastics around the marshes have found plenty of fish.
Earl, of Avon Pier, reports that those fishing fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas on the bottom have landed sea mullet, spot, and croaker. Casting plugs from the end of the pier has connected with good numbers of spanish and bluefish.
Kelly, of Frisco Tackle, reports that tossing jigs from the surf has been the ticket for landing good numbers of spanish and bluefish. Anglers fishing early in the morning have found schools of fish feeding on top of the water. Puppy drum have also shown up well in the surf. Casting fresh cut mullet has been the best bait.
In the sound, puppy drum and speckled trout are feeding well around the marshes. Live finger mullet and live shrimp have been the top baits, but soft plastics fished off the bottom and under corks have worked as well.
Pete McCoy with a 48” red drum caught near Hatteras Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Will Smith of Bak Bar Charters.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair, reports that those heading offshore have found excellent wahoo action. Trolling has produced near limits some days, with plenty of quality fish in the mix. The dolphin bite has started to heat back up, and landing a limit of fish has not been unusual. A few blackfin tuna have been in the mix as well.
The inshore red drum bite has produced fish ranging from 20” all the way up to 50”. The slot drum are holding near the marshes, and live and cut mullet are working best. The big drum have been fond of large pieces of fresh cut mullet fished near ledges and drop-offs in the sound.
Speckled trout fishing has gotten a little tough, as the fish have spread out. Covering lots of water in the marsh has been the key to finding a limit of fish. Soft plastics under popping corks, as well as live shrimp, have been the most productive.
Surf fishing for spanish and bluefish has picked up. Targeting the early morning and late evening hours has proved to be most successful, and casting lures from the surf has yielded good numbers of fish. A few puppy drum have been hooked in the suds as well. Fresh cut mullet has worked best.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that anglers targeting the flats behind Frisco have found schools of puppy drum cruising and looking for bait. Soft plastics and gold spoons have been the key to landing good numbers of these slot and over-slot reds.
The big over-slot drum are also showing up in the sound. They’ve been holding in schools, and anglers have been able to sight fish them.
Just off the beach, there are bluefish (in the 2-3 lb. range) schooling up. Anglers throwing jigs around the inlets have had the most success. Spanish fishing is also holding steady.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that billfish action has still been solid in the area. White marlin and sailfish have been the main targets.
Tuna fishing has been decent, with a few yellowfin and blackfin tuna being landed. The dolphin fishing has picked up.
Bill, of Predator Sport Fishing, reports that the billfish bite has slowed down a little, but the wahoo bite has picked up. Anglers have also had good luck landing good numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
A few mahi have also been in the mix, but they’ve been scattered.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that those targeting red drum in the surf have had success with fresh cut mullet, as well as artificial lures. A mix of pompano, sea mullet, and flounder have been landed when fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms. Casting Stingsilvers and other jigs from the beach has hooked plenty of bluefish and spanish. Most fish have fed best during the early morning hours.
In the sound, the big red drum have shown up. Fishing the bottom with large pieces of fresh cut mullet has been the ticket.
Puppy drum and speckled trout have been holding around the marsh, and live shrimp and finger mullet have been the top producing baits. Gulp plastics under popping corks have also worked well.
Anglers fishing the inside have landed good numbers of gray trout, spanish, and flounder.
