Hatteras/Ocracoke – June 2025
Jeremy, of Hatteras Jack, reports that surf anglers are seeing steady bites on bluefish with both cut baits and metal casting jigs.
These anglers are also getting the occasional opportunity to cast at schools of spanish mackerel from the beach, although the local piers have enjoyed most of the action. Gotcha plugs are the top lure.
Smaller bottom rig setups are producing sea mullet.
Down on the southern part of the island, some pompano are showing up, which will hopefully move north shortly.
Red drum (slot and over-slot) are biting, with fresh cut baits producing most of the action.
Soundside red drum have been tough on anglers fishing artificials, as water temperatures are only slowly rising. Carolina-rigged cut baits are best for fishing the flats.
Bluefish catches have been steady inside. These first fish, however, are smaller than previous springs.
A couple speckled trout (upper teens range) are being caught with soft plastics under popping corks.
Sheepshead are starting to move in in small numbers as they slowly move from offshore wintering areas. They are being caught around hard structures such as the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
Ryan, of Reel Em In Charters, reports increased soundside action, with red drum, speckled trout, and a lot of bluefish moving in. Most of these fish are staged up on the flats and should get more active as water temperatures continue to rise and bait arrives.
Sheepshead are showing up in better numbers around structure inside and in the inlet.
Surf fishing is picking up, with the main catches being 12-20” bluefish, scattered puppy drum, and sea mullet. Sand fleas have been best for the sea mullet, whereas bluefish and red drum prefer cut mullet.
Gizelle, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that anglers are starting to catch spanish mackerel along with all the bluefish. Casting jigs will be more successful as the area moves into the summer season.
Flounder (throwbacks) are starting to show up.
David and Lyla Buffington, of Elon, landed this bull red drum from the surf at Ocracoke using cut mullet.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that surf anglers are catching sea mullet and croakers with smaller baits on bottom rigs.
Some spanish mackerel are being caught with casting jigs when conditions come together to bring schools in closer.
Larger bluefish (to 30”) have been running up and down the beaches, and they’re hitting both cut baits and casting jigs.
Out at the Point, puppy drum, bluefish, sharks, and rays have been hooked.
Local pier anglers have landed some big red drum (to 41”).
Pompano are showing up down south (closer to the inlet), and they should swing up this way shortly.
Soundside anglers are seeing action pick up slowly for both bluefish and puppy drum, mainly on the flats.
Chris, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers have been catching a decent mix of sea mullet and spot.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel catches have picked up for anglers looking to cast plugs.
Stewart, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that Hatteras surf anglers have been getting plenty of bluefish (6-8 lb. range) using cut baits and casting jigs.
The cut bait setups are also enticing scattered puppy drum to feed.
Anglers at the Point are catching mostly bluefish, as the large red drum action has been slow.
Pompano are slowly starting to move in, and this first push of fish has included a couple citation-class fish. The pompano have been here and then gone, so hopefully rising water temperatures will bring more consistency.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore fishing action has picked up. Anglers running out are catching a mixed bag of mahi, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and billfish.
Nearshore trips are producing good numbers of larger bluefish, red drum, spanish mackerel, and gray trout.
Sheepshead fishing is picking up, with some quality fish staging up over structure in the inlet and sound.
Surf anglers are catching plenty of bluefish.
Brent Passonetti, of Pennsylvania, with a 43 lb. mahi caught on a naked ballyhoo around the Hatteras SE Rocks. He was fishing with Capt. Jeremy Hicks of Calypso Sportfishing Charters.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that the fleet is finally seeing a nice push of springtime mahi, with trips getting into double digits of some gaffer-sized fish.
Blackfin tuna and large wahoo are mixed in the trolling action. Ballyhoo on blue/white or black/blue sea witches have been getting regular strikes.
Some blue marlin are around now that the mahi have moved in.
Tim, of Rabid Tuna Sportfishing Charters, reports that trolling has recently started to fire off. Anglers are finding gaffer-sized dolphin while pulling dink ballyhoo naked or under skirts. Colors vary, but the best tactic is to run something with pink, green, or purple in the pattern.
Billfish have shown up, with catches of blue marlin and sailfish mixed in the action, and a few stud wahoo round off the trolling catches.
Bottom fishing trips have been very productive. The deeper (600’) bottoms are holding snowy grouper, gray tilefish, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Jeremy, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers have been seeing big numbers of huge bluefish (to 10+ lbs.) in the surf. These fish have been working their way from the south ramp across the island. Both fresh cut bait and casting metals are getting strikes.
Smaller bottom fishing setups and cut shrimp are producing some sea mullet.
Surf anglers are occasionally seeing spanish mackerel moved in close the beach, although boat anglers have done better.
Soundside anglers are seeing the red drum fishing pick up, with both puppy drum and the occasional citation-class fish being caught with cut baits.
Some black drum are inside for those fishing shrimp.
