Hatteras/Ocracoke – November 2026
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that with all of the weather fronts, anglers have enjoyed good runs of bull red drum down at the Point. Reds are also scattered up and down the beachfront with the stirred up conditions.
Bottom fishing efforts in November will likely produce sea mullet, croakers, and bluefish.
Anglers are looking forward to the possibility of a decent trout bite. Some smaller trout are already around, which is a good sign in itself.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that before the blow, anglers were seeing mixed action on spots, blowtoads, sea mullet, croakers, and the occasional pompano.
Anglers casting plugs have been catching bluefish.
Some speckled trout were showing up in the surf zone, and anglers getting out on the beaches and fishing in the rough conditions are targeting the big drum that are around.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that the red drum have been loving the churned up conditions. The island has seen a bunch of big drum (to 47”) caught.
Anglers down on the southern beaches are hooking smaller red drum, small flounder, spot, black drum, and the occasional pompano.
Action back in the sound is starting to pick up. The speckled trout are beginning to make a showing, and scattered puppy drum are on the flats.
Travis, of Citation Bait and Tackle, reports that the big drum bite has been on at the Point, and anywhere from Ramps 44 on up to 49 also saw some drum action.
Smaller bottom setups are producing a bunch of sea mullet, and scattered but smaller (to 18”) bluefish are around.
Back in the sound, speckled trout have started showing up. This first push of fish was mostly smaller ones, but they are a good sign of life after a slow summer.
The red drum action inside has been picking up.
Luke, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that with all this wind, most of the surf action is targeting big red drum out at the Point.
Some sea mullet, spot, smaller bluefish, and the occasional blowtoad are mixed in while bottom fishing.
Back in the sound, anglers are finally starting to see more speckled trout.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that the winds have kept boats tied up, but moving into November, wahoo and blackfin tuna will be the most common target species.
Some king mackerel will likely be around as well.
Inshore, the action in the sound has been spotty. Puppy drum should start schooling up a little better, and speckled trout should be in the mix with the water temperatures cooling off.
Out in the surf, anglers have had some success catching big drum out at the Point. Other surf action has included sea mullet and bluefish.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that this run of winds has brought the water temperatures down, which is great for kicking off the fall speckled trout bite. These fish will keep moving in more numbers into the area, and throwing 1/4 oz. jig heads with soft plastics such as a Z-Man MinnowZ is a great way to scout areas for active schools.
Anglers will start having more success targeting red drum on the flats as the reds start to group up. Anglers can expect some sight casting opportunities with artificials, but fishing Carolina-rigged cut bait is probably the best way to entice bites.
Plenty of bluefish are around, and they can be caught with a variety of techniques, from sight-casting metal lures to bait fishing.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that before the blow, boats were still seeing some dolphin around, and though water temperatures have dropped some, there’s still a small chance to run across a late season school.
Wahoo will be the main target moving into November, as well as larger blackfin tuna.
The fleet is also hoping to get shots at some yellowfin tuna this fall, though that’s a wait-and-see fishery.
Nearshore anglers will be able to find some king mackerel over live bottom and other structure.
Ron Howe, of Shallotte, with a 31″ red drum caught from the Ocracoke surf using cut mullet on a hi-lo rig.
Tim, of Rabid Tuna Charters, reports that the area was starting to get a nice wave of wahoo before this run of north winds, and boats anticipate that the wahoo action will stick around through November.
Some blackfin tuna should be mixed in the trolling action.
King mackerel typically make a good showing from mid to late November.
Jeremy, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that red drum have been working their way out of the sound. These mostly over-slot fish have scattered out along the beaches for those fishing fresh cut bait.
Bluefish are mixed in the surf action. The blues have mostly been smaller fish (to 10”), with a couple big ones mixed in.
The smaller species (pompano, sea mullet, and spot) haven’t been active lately since the water conditions are dirty and stirred up from the weather.
