Hatteras April 12, 2012
Chris Scott, of Berlin, MD, with a 46" red drum he caught and released in the Ocracoke Island surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Tackle.
Cowboy, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of sea mullet and pufferfish on bloodworms and shrimp in the local surf. Some bluefish are also showing up and taking an interest in cut baits.
The water is just getting right for some citation-class red drum to make a showing on the northern beaches, so soaking some large cut baits from the beach isn’t a bad idea.
The sloughs in the sound behind Bodie Island Lighthouse and just south of Oregon Inlet have been producing some speckled trout for anglers casting soft plastic baits and other lures.
A few flounder have also been in the mix around the inlet.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that there’s been an excellent sea mullet and pufferfish bite in the surf around Avon. Shrimp and bloodworms on double-hook bottom rigs will attract plenty of attention from both fish.
Big bluefish are feeding just off the beaches, so it shouldn’t be long until they’re making an appearance in the surf as well.
At least one big red drum was caught and released at the Point last week, but the Parks Service has closed the area to beach driving.
Kristin, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and pufferfish while bottom fishing with shrimp from the pier.
Jake Worthington, of Camden, NC, with a citation 40 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo behind a blue/pink Ilander while he was trolling the Gulf Stream aboard the charterboat "Swordfish" out of Teach's Lair Marina in Hatteras.
Bob, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers soaking shrimp-baited bottom rigs in the surf are connecting with some pufferfish, sea mullet, and a few taylor bluefish and speckled trout right now.
The trout bite is also heating up back in the sound, where anglers are hooking most of their fish on soft plastic baits.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that offshore boats are connecting with some excellent catches of yellowfin tuna off to the east of Hatteras when the weather’s been cooperative. Some blackfins have been mixed in.
Closer to Hatteras Inlet, the wahoo bite has been solid as well, with some blackfin tuna and gaffer dolphin mixed in. The blue water gamefish are taking an interest in ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Surf anglers are finding action with sea mullet, pufferfish, and some blues and croakers on the Buxton, Hatteras, and Frisco beachfront. Shrimp and Fish Bites bloodworms are fooling most of the panfish.
A few lucky anglers have also run into some puppy drum and flounder from the beaches.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite is still excellent out to the east of Cape Hatteras, where boats are putting together solid (sometimes limit) catches while trolling ballyhoo under sea witches and other skirted lures.
From Hatteras down to Ocracoke, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and dolphin have been making a good showing. Skirted ballyhoo are also fooling these Gulf Stream gamefish, with most of the wahoo falling for baits trolled deep behind planers.
David Tyler, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, caught and released this citation red drum while fishing with Capt. Jerry Teel on the "Got 'Em". The big red fell for a sight-cast bucktail. Photo courtesy of JAM at Teach's Lair Marina.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers still managed to catch and release a few citation-class red drum from the island’s beach last week. Large cut baits on fish finder rigs are the way to go for the big reds.
Aside from the big drum, surf casters landed some slot-sized puppy drum, some black drum (to 30”), bluefish, and a few sea mullet. Shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs are producing most of the action.
Inshore, there’s been a solid sea mullet bite in Teach’s Hole for anglers with small boats looking for something to catch in protected water. The mullet have a hard time turning down spec rigs or double-hook bottom rigs with shrimp and other baits.
Offshore, the wahoo fishing remains excellent when boats have the weather to run to the blue water.
