Hatteras/Ocracoke – December 2023
Mike, of Hatteras Jack, reports that when conditions have been reasonably settled, surf anglers are catching a bunch of pufferfish and a ton of black drum. Some red drum are also mixed in the surf action, especially by anglers fishing on beaches further to the south.
Those driving up to fish the Bonner Bridge Pier have caught sheepshead. In the winter months, dogfish sharks will move in and can provide some line pulling action. Depending on the weather, a variety of species are available in the colder months, including black drum, sea mullet, bluefish, and puppy drum. Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that even though the pier has closed for the season, some catches of pufferfish, black drum, and sea mullet happened right up until the last day.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers fishing on the Avon beaches have been catching some black drum and sea mullet. Anglers on the rest of the Hatteras Island beaches have been finding a mix of puppy drum, flounder (released), blow toads, and black drum (to 20”). Soundside fishing has really slowed down with the water temperatures falling out, but sheepshead are around hard structures and puppy drum are up on the flats.
Dallas Williams, Tracy Barnes, and Sydney Cornatzer, of Advance, NC, caught these 24″+ red drum from the surf at Avon. They were fishing with sand fleas.
Through the coming winter months, there can still be plenty of reasons to get out on the beach and fish. The species being found now should stick around most of the winter (unless conditions get super cold). Joining the black drum, sea mullet, and blow toads will be dogfish sharks and skates.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers caught some nice sea mullet right up until the pier closed for the season. Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore anglers are finding catches of wahoo and a few blackfin tuna.
The king mackerel bite has been really good for both the commercial and live bait crowd. False albacore are around in numbers in many of the same nearshore and offshore areas as the kings. Moving into late December and January, the same pattern should continue. Wahoo will remain the top offshore trolling target (when the favorable weather windows arrive).
Bluefin tuna is another fishery that some anglers look forward to in these cold weather months. These fish should start showing up around January, with anglers to the south of the region already seeing signs of the giants arriving. The sound fishing has basically shut down with the cooler water temperatures, but those still looking for action can target the surf zone for black drum, sea mullet, and puppy drum.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers have had a lot of success catching both red drum and black drum while cut bait fishing on the grass flats. Shrimp makes a great bait option for both species, along with any other small finfish species you can use within regulations. Sheepshead are staged up around some of the wrecks for anglers fishing sand fleas.
As the cool winter temperatures settle in and most of the inshore species move on, anglers start to shift their focus to the other edge of the sound where striped bass action will kick off. The river mouths and mainland rivers of the Pamlico and Albemarle will be the center of all the action, with anglers also catching large catfish and shad right up into the spring.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that offshore anglers are enjoying good blackfin tuna fishing. Throughout the winter months, anglers can get out and target blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and wahoo.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that there has been some excellent king mackerel fishing for anglers slow trolling live baits. Trolling efforts are also producing blackfin tuna and large wahoo, and the larger wahoo and blackfin tuna will stick around right through the colder months. Yellowfin tuna will also start to make a presence in the trolling action. Water temperatures have been falling quickly, so the giant bluefin tuna should start showing up in numbers as well.
Luke, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that anglers have had the most success catching black drum and sea mullet on shrimp from the surf. Some blow toads are moving in, so expect them to be scattered in the catches.
The area sees a lot of rough conditions in the winter, but this is also the time of year anglers can target a few speckled trout in the surf. However, the better speckled trout fishing needs the wind and waves to calm down for efforts to be successful. Puppy drum are scattered around as well.
December and January still see some action happening in the surf for anglers looking to wet a line. Bottom fishing beachfront holes and sloughs will produce a mixed bag of sea mullet, black drum, puppy drum, blow toads, and dogfish sharks.
Kristen, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some puppy drum in the surf, especially with the stirred up conditions. On days when conditions are more settled, surf anglers can see catches of blow toads, trout, sheepshead, and red drum.
