Hatteras/Ocracoke – June 2022
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers have had plenty of success catching puppy drum when fishing Carolina-rigged fresh mullet.
Sea mullet numbers are getting better as the water temperatures work their way up.
Bluefish are in the area and being caught off the local piers. Over the next month, more fish moving into the area will make it more common for bluefish to be caught off the surf as well.
Soundside anglers are reporting really good speckled trout fishing. The major news has been the quality of fish, including several citations.
Tom Barinsky and friends, of West Virginia, caught these yellowfin, wahoo, and mahi using skirted ballyhoo. They were fishing out of Hatteras with Capt. Jeremy Hicks of Calypso Sportfishing.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are catching bluefish and some good-sized sea mullet.
Spanish mackerel fishing was getting good before the recent blow, and anglers look forward to the schools moving back onto the beachfronts as the water clears up.
Cobia started to show up south of the area, and there’s a good chance a few will be showing up over the next month as they continue their northern migration.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the red drum bite has been steady just about everywhere on Hatteras Island, with some especially good action around Ramp 32 in Avon.
Sea mullet are being caught by anglers fishing bottom rigged baits in deeper cuts.
Bluefish are becoming more plentiful along the beaches, as they are often within casting range of surf anglers.
Some spanish mackerel are also mixed in the casting action around Buxton, and anglers have had success with both Stingsilvers and Shore Lures glass minnow jigs.
Sound fishing has produced some good-sized speckled trout (to 21”) and puppy drum.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers fishing smaller, bottom-rigged baits are catching plenty of sea mullet.
A few nice-sized sheepshead are being pulled up from around the pilings, and puppy drum are also feeding well around the pier.
Anglers sight-casting plugs are catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Bryan, of Hatteras Style Custom Rods & Tackle, reports that there have been plenty of red drum (both puppy and yearlings) being caught from Ramp 44 out to the Point.
Anglers have found some nice-sized sea mullet while bottom fishing around Ramp 43.
Bluefish are becoming more plentiful in the Hatteras Island surf as water temperatures warm up.
A good-sized cobia was caught surf fishing at Ramp 38.
Sound side anglers have been catching large speckled trout along the grassy shorelines, and sheepshead are moving in around structure near the inlets.
Nearshore anglers have started catching the first few cobia of the season, as well as citation-class red drum.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore anglers are returning with mixed bags of gaffer-sized dolphin, blackfins, and yellowfins.
There are also some good-sized wahoo and kings included in the dock counts.
Inshore trips have been seeing great red drum action. The larger red drum are being caught just off the beach and around the inlets. Puppy drum are more inside, but plentiful.
A couple speckled trout and bluefish are also being caught back in the sound.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that Hatteras anglers have been finding some excellent puppy drum action while fishing cut bait on the windier days.
Cobia have also started to show up outside the inlet, and anglers are finding some opportunities to sight-cast to them. Larger Meat Hog jigs or Bowed Up bucktail jigs are great local favorites for this sight-casting fishery.
Sheepshead fishing has been off the charts to start off the year. Anglers are having plenty of success targeting wrecks outside the inlet with sand fleas or shrimp.
Speckled trout fishing is starting to pick up with rising water temperatures. Most are casting smaller (3”) Z-Man paddle tails on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that tuna fishing remains steady, with anglers reeling up blackfins and some good-sized yellowfin tuna.
Dolphin are showing up as well, as they migrate into the region, and a few large wahoo and king mackerel are mixed in the counts.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that the gaffer dolphin started to show up in good numbers, a signs of early summer fishing firing off.
There have still been a good number of tuna (both yellowfin and blackfin) mixed in the action.
Billfish are in the area, and moving into the next few weeks, expect to see more release flags flying.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers on the beach have been catching good numbers of yearling red drum (28-32”) while fishing cut baits. Slot reds are also around, though action was better before this last big NE storm rolled through. Anglers anticipate the action stabilizing as the weather stabilizes in the coming weeks.
Bottom fishing has been producing sea mullet and pompano, both of which will return as the water cleans up.
Bluefish moved into the area’s beaches over the last month and will be hitting casting jigs as they feed on bait balls near the shoreline.
Inshore anglers have been catching both puppy and over-slot red drum around the inlet. Bottom fishing in the deeper channels has been producing sea mullet.
Offshore anglers have been doing well on trolling trips, with a mixed bag of yellowfins, blackfins, dolphin, and wahoo.
