Hatteras/Ocracoke – August 2021
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that bottom fishing in the surf has seen plenty of croakers around. Spot and sea mullet are also mixed in for anglers fishing bits of fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
A few pompano are mixed in the counts, and they’re hitting sand fleas and fresh shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are around and sometimes within casting range of anglers on the sand. Pier anglers have had more successes, likely due to bait hanging around the pilings.
Soundside anglers are doing very well while targeting speckled trout. The grassy shorelines and inshore ledges are holding most of these smaller groups of fish.
Puppy drum are in the same areas, and they’re hitting soft plastics and Carolina-rigged baits.
Schools of bluefish are in the deeper areas and channels of the sound.
Mike Noles and Nick Piland with a 44 lb. citation mahi that was caught using a ballyhoo rigged on light tackle. They were fishing with Capt. Marty Baumgaertel of Cap’N B Fishing Charters out of Ocracoke.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that king mackerel fishing has been really good, with double-digit numbers of fish being landed.
Some large spanish mackerel are mixed in the live-baiting action, with many also being caught on Gotcha plugs.
Anglers fishing bottom rigs are catching sheepshead, croakers, and spot.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf anglers have been finding tons of croaker around.
Some sea mullet, spot, and pompano are also in the mix for anglers fishing bottom rigs on the Hatteras Island beaches.
Fresh cut baits have produced a few smaller sharks.
The sound has had a great bite on speckled trout, with some slot-sized red drum mixed in. Soft plastics rigged under popping corks have produced the most consistent action.
Nicole, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been great, with a mixed bag of croakers, spots, pinfish, pigfish, and a few puffers all being a part of daily counts.
Fishing tight to the pilings has produced sheepshead and spadefish.
Anglers casting jigs at bait balls are landing spanish mackerel and ribbonfish.
Denny, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers out at the Point are finding some good spanish mackerel action.
The ramp 49 and 55 areas have seen good numbers of sea mullet and croakers being landed by the bottom fishing anglers. Pompano are mixed in the bite on days the water isn’t completely churned up.
Soundside anglers continue to have a great season for keeper speckled trout. Smaller puppy drum are mixed in, and they’re hitting both cut baits and soft plastics.
Lee, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore trips have been returning with good numbers of dolphin found under grass.
Billfish action has been steady. Anglers are reporting hookups with blues and pretty good numbers of white marlin.
Wahoo have made a recent showing in the dock counts.
Bottom fishing has been great, with a mix of tilefish, grouper, triggerfish, amberjacks, and vermilion snapper being caught.
Trolling a bit closer to the beach is producing king mackerel and false albacore.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught by anglers trolling from right outside the inlets and along the beachfront.
Inshore trips are producing bluefish, speckled trout, and red drum.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers are catching really good numbers of speckled trout. Soft plastics have been best for scouting holes and finding groups of fish. Z-Man MinnowZ in the “creole croaker” color pattern has been the top producing bait on recent trips.
Red drum have been scattered in the action. Fishing cut baits and drifting flats with gold spoons have been useful tactics in finding the reds.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that wahoo fishing has picked up on recent trips, with larger fish (up to 44 lbs.) mixed in the trolling action.
Good numbers of dolphin remain the main catch on offshore trips.
Billfish action has been steady. Some large blues (up to 350 lbs.) and sailfish are jumping baits in the spread when anglers target areas free of grass.
King mackerel (up to 20 lbs.) and scattered blackfin are mixed in the trip counts.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that dolphin fishing can be scrappy in the summer months, but anglers are still picking up their limits on some trips. There has been plenty of scattered grass keeping anglers busy in maintaining a clean spread.
Wahoo have popped up in good numbers for summer, with some larger fish being added to the fish box.
King mackerel and sailfish are also striking trolled baits.
Jeff Black, Paul Freeman, John Peters, Brian Morrison, Joe Geer, and Bill DelFera with a catch that included wahoo, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper. They were fishing with Capt. Patrick Caton on the charter boat Little Clam out of Oden’s Dock in Hatteras.
Jessie, of Carolina Girl Sportfishing, reports that anglers are catching plenty of mixed bailer and gaffer-sized dolphin. There has been a large eddy offshore that has grass scattered everywhere and keeps anglers actively clearing baits.
Some good-sized wahoo have made a great showing on recent trips. It seems there are large numbers of fish pushed in which is not typical for mid-summer.
Billfishing has been relatively good once getting outside all the grass. White marlin have made up a majority of the hookups, along with mixed blues and sailfish.
Kristen, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf fishing has been steady. With the summertime high water temperatures, anglers are finding the most success with bottom-rigged shrimp and cut baits. A mix of bluefish, sea mullet, and red drum are the main catches.
On clear water days, pompano and spanish mackerel are included in the counts.
The sound has been producing some good fishing, with both gray trout and sea mullet feeding on fresh shrimp fished in the deeper holes and channels.
Bluefish are mixed in these same deeper areas, and they’re hitting cut baits and casting jigs.
Targeting the grass flats with live shrimp or soft plastics is producing speckled trout.
