Kaya Steele and her father, of PA, with one of many puppy drum Kaya landed while sight-casting to fish in the Pamlico Sound with a pink 5′ Zebco combo. she was fishing with wutg Capt. Jerry Teel of Got-Em Charters out of Teachs Lair Marina.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf casters have seen some excellent action with slot and over-slot red drum on the beaches around Rodanthe over the past week. Anglers are hooking the reds on bottom rigs baited with finger mullet and cut baits, along with soft plastics pinned to jigheads and bucktails.
There’s also still a good red drum bite in the sound behind the tri-villages, with the best action at night on cut baits.
Anglers working artificials and soaking live baits in the sound are connecting with good numbers of flounder and speckled trout during the daylight hours.
Ervin, of The Fishing Hole, reports that surf casters are seeing some solid fall action with sea mullet, pompano, and spot while casting double-drop rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms. Some puppy drum are also feeding in the surf and finding anglers’ baits.
There’s been an excellent flounder bite in the sound (with fish to 5+ lbs.) recently, and anglers are hooking up with the flatfish on both live baits and a variety of Gulp and other soft plastic baits.
Jamie, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with a wide variety of fish from the pier at present. Bottom fishermen are hooking pompano, sea mullet, spot, puppy drum, and gray trout on rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other casting lures when the water’s clean.
David Embrey, of King George,VA, with a flounder he hooked on a buctkail tipped with a strip bait in the Hatteras Village surf.
Sarah, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking bluefish and increasing numbers of puppy drum from the local beachfront as the fish transition from the sound to the ocean.
Some citation-class reds are also feeding in the breakers around Avon, with plenty more on the way as the water temperatures begin to drop. Cut baits are fooling the big reds along with the pups and bluefish.
Sea mullet, spot, croaker, and other panfish are also feeding along the beachfront and biting shrimp and bloodworms.
Bev, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers working Glass Minnows and other metal jigs from the beachfront are putting together some solid catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, and puppy drum from the sand at Frisco. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits are fooling most of the fish.
Anglers casting artificials and drifting cut baits in the sound are finding action with speckled trout, flounder, and puppy drum.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are hooking puppy drum and bluefish while soaking cut baits in the surf from Buxton to Hatteras.
Inshore boaters are reporting plenty of action with slot and over-slot red drum along with some flounder. Both artificals and cut baits are fooling the pups and flatfish.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Hatteras Inlet and along the beachfront, where boaters are hooking them on trolled Clarkspoons.
The offshore fleet is still seeing plenty of action with dolphin and putting some wahoo on ice as well.
JAM, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that the offshore boats are finding plenty of dolphin action (most bailers but some gaffers mixed in). Some sailfish are feeding in the same areas and taking an interest in boats’ baits as well.
Inshore boats are connecting with big numbers of red drum (ranging from puppies to 40”+ citation fish). Both artificials and cut baits are fooling the reds.
Surf casters are seeing a decent run of spot while baiting small hooks with bloodworms. Larger cut baits are fooling good numbers of puppy drum and bluefish.