Hatteras/Ocracoke – September 2025
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that soundside anglers have been catching puppy drum, bluefish, and some speckled trout.
The surf zone has seen a good variety of bluefish, puppy drum, whiting, croaker, and sharks.
The best tactic, whether fishing sound or surf, has been to use the freshest bait possible.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that there has been some great casting action for spanish mackerel and good-sized bluefish.
Bottom fishing has been producing sheepshead (to 7.5 lbs.), pompano, and sea mullet.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports that anglers have been catching bluefish up and down the beach. Some pompano are around Ramp 55, though the rougher surf makes capitalizing on the bite more difficult.
Soundside anglers are hooking bluefish and some red drum (to 30”).
Some big red drum (to 48”) are being caught with cut bait around the shoals at night.
Keith, of Avon Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers have had success catching sea mullet, pompano, and croakers.
There has also been productive casting action to schools of spanish mackerel.
Nicholas Ralph, of Miami, landed this bull red drum on a piece of cut mullet in the Pamlico Sound behind Hatteras. He was fishing with Capt. Peter Wann of Wann Sportfishing Charters.
Kristie, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that anglers in the surf zone have been catching puppy drum, with a bunch of action also being had out at the Point.
Before the water got all muddied up, anglers bottom fishing with shrimp or sand fleas were finding a mixed bag of sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught with casting jigs. Anglers have been spotting them popping baits on the surface, and early or late in the day are the most productive times.
Soundside anglers are catching scattered puppy drum and keeper speckled trout.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that the offshore boats have been on great numbers of mahi. Mixed in the daily dock counts are some blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo.
Billfish also remain plentiful in the area.
Nearshore anglers have been finding a bunch of spanish mackerel.
In the sound, anglers have seen a solid red drum bite, with some of the bigger reds (40+ inches) also hitting the baits.
Bluefish are plentiful and can be found just about everywhere.
The speckled trout action has been slowly picking back up as the area starts to move away from the peak summer heat.
Surf anglers have been landing spanish mackerel, bluefish, sea mullet, croakers, and flounder.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers have been doing great catching red drum and bluefish on the flats while both sight-casting and soaking cut baits.
Speckled trout have been starting to mix in, and the trout action only gets better as these water temperatures cool. For the trout, throwing 3” Z-Man soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads have been best.
As we get further into September, the cobia will be migrating back into the ocean, and anglers can have success targeting them by cut bait fishing or sight-casting bucktails to cruising fish.
James Ray Hall, of Roseboro, caught this 10 lb., 30″ speckled trout around the outer beaches of Cape Lookout using a gold soft plastic. He was fishing with Capt. Noah Lynk of Noah’s Ark Fishing Charters.
Tim, of Rabid Tuna Sportfishing Charters, reports that offshore trips have been finding limits of mahi while both trolling and bailing from under floating grass and debris.
Nice-sized wahoo have begun to show up for those trolling baits. Black/purple, pink/white, and pink/mylar have been the top producing skirts to run behind the boat in search of a bite. As temperatures cool down offshore, the wahoo bite only gets better, with larger fish becoming a more common addition to the fish box.
The fleet has also continued to find good marlin and sailfish action in the mix.
Stopping off to bottom fish has basically been producing catches of black sea bass, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that boats have been landing great numbers of mahi, with limits being found on many trips
Scattered billfish and wahoo are mixed in the offshore action.
Jackie, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching a bunch of big bluefish in the surf. Both cut baits and casting jigs are having their times of success.
A good amount of red drum are in the surf as well, with both slot and over-slot fish in the mix. The early mornings and late afternoon have seen the better bite.
These same early and late hours are also producing spanish mackerel for anglers casting jigs.
Back in the sound, speckled trout fishing has been consistent and improving, and the bite only gets better as temperatures continue to cool.
