Hatteras Winter 2010-2011
Scott Tyson, of Charlotte, NC, with a 25" puppy drum he hooked in the surf off Ocracoke Island. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that anglers are hoping to see a good speckled trout and puppy drum bite continue into January. Casting MirrOlures, Gulps, and other soft plastic baits into the oceanfront sloughs will produce action with the fish when anglers can find them.
Boats are seeing a few striped bass near Oregon Inlet, but they’re likely resident Albemarle Sound fish leaving the inlet instead of a large body of oceanic fish headed south. In recent years, the bait’s been staying well off the beaches, making conditions tough for anglers looking to hook a striper from the beach.
Harrison, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout (though many are small) while casting grubs in the surf zone.
Anglers bottom fishing around Hatteras Inlet have been hooking some small puppy drum (to 20”, but most smaller), black drum, and flounder on shrimp and cut baits.
The puppy drum bite was phenomenal last January in the island’s surf, and anglers are eagerly hoping that fishing will repeat itself. Casting Gulp baits and other soft plastics from the beaches is the best tactic when the pups are schooling.
Anglers are reporting birds working the beaches to the north around Corolla, so striped bass action may be a possibility as the water continues to cool.
Steve, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that anglers are hoping this will be the winter the stripers return to Hatteras in big numbers. Only time will tell if the fish make it that far south as the water gets colder.
Anglers are catching some stripers from the catwalk at the Bonner Bridge, and the fish should become more numerous and larger as December wears on. Live eels and bucktails are producing most of the fish, and the best action’s been for anglers dangling lights near the water at night.
Speckled trout are hanging in the beachfront sloughs, and anglers can target them by casting MirrOlures, soft plastics, or Gulp baits.
The north side of the Point has been producing some action with puppy drum as well, and a few pups should stay in the area for the majority of the winter.
Ron and Levi Shelton, from Newport, NC, with twleve speckled trout (the largest 5.3 lbs.) and a flounder they hooked on MR17 Mirrolures while fishing a mainland creek near Morhead City.
Steve, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that boats are finding wide open blackfin tuna fishing (some citation 20+ pounders) around the 280 Rocks south of Diamond Shoals Tower. Both trolling and jigging have been producing solid catches. Those jigging are also releasing some stout (50”+) amberjacks and hooking a few king mackerel.
Trollers are catching a few yellowfin tuna (to 40 lbs.) and wahoo along with the blackfins.
Surf anglers are hooking up with a few speckled trout, puppy drum, and black drum, but the majority are small.
Puppy drum fishing in January and February was incredible last year, and anglers are hoping that cool weather will again force the pups out of the sounds and into the surf zone, where anglers can hook them while casting soft plastics.
Cooler weather may also bring some striped bass down from the north as the winter wears on.
Alan, of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching a few whiting, black drum, and puppy drum in recent weeks. The recent cold front has slowed the fishing down a bit, but anglers are hoping to see a repeat of last winter’s excellent puppy drum fishing later in the month and into January. Gold Hopkins spoons and MirrOlures are top choices for the winter pups.
At last report, there was still a decent wahoo bite and some king mackerel action for boats trolling offshore.
Offshore bottom fishing stays solid through the winter, and anglers targeting wrecks and other structure can expect good catches of black sea bass, triggerfish, and other tasty bottom dwellers.
