Hatteras/Ocracoke – September 2026
Eric, of Hatteras Jack, reports that anglers bottom fishing from the Rodanthe-area beaches have been catching some good-sized sea mullet.
There have also been a bunch of opportunities to sight-cast jigs at schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish, and this bite is happening up and down the island, even on the southern facing beaches.
Anglers fishing soundside have found a couple speckled trout.
The big red drum action is picking up further out into the sound.
Jim, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing a summertime mix of sheepshead, spot, croakers, pinfish, and some small black sea bass.
Spanish mackerel has been a steady bite, and flounder and jack crevalle are scattered.
Heather, of Frank and Fran’s, reports catches of spanish mackerel up and down the beach, especially around Avon.
Bluefish are mixed in with the casting action, and anglers are having success throwing Stingsilvers, diamond jigs, and a variety of spoons.
The bottom fishing action has included a mix of croakers, sea mullet, and some pompano.
Off the beach, plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish are around for the nearshore crowd.
Back in the sound, anglers are finding some old drum.
Travis, of Citation Bait and Tackle, reports that spanish mackerel action is happening from Avon down to Buxton. This is a really good class of fish, with most falling in the 2-4 lb. range. Anglers are having a lot of success throwing Shore Lures in yellow/white or pink/white patterns.
Plenty of bluefish are around as well, and they will hit the same casting jigs.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing a mix of sea mullet, croakers, spots, and the occasional small pompano.
The sharks (mostly spinner and blacktips) have been plentiful.
Soundside, anglers have been catching some flounder, and old drum can be found by targeting ledges and ARs with cut bait.
Abby Berquist, of Kitty Hawk, with a barracuda caught and released a couple miles offshore of Ocracoke using a live pinfish. She was fishing with her husband, Capt. John Berquist, of DrumBeat Charters.
Eric, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers have had a lot of success with spanish mackerel. Fish up to 6 lbs. have come over the rails.
Bottom fishing is producing the summertime mix of sea mullet, croakers, and some spots.
Allie, of Frisco Rod & Gun, reports that surf anglers have been hooking plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish. Casting jigs around surface-feeding schools has been the main tactic, and avoiding crowds can be a good way to find fish within a shorter casting distance.
Bottom fishing is mostly a mix of croakers and sea mullet, with the pompano bite slow along all of the beachfront (but better in Hatteras than the rest of the beach strand).
In the sound, the fishing action for all species, from red drum to trout to sheepshead, is a grind.
Victoria, of Teach’s Lair, reports that offshore trips are seeing mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and some amberjacks, as well as plenty of billfish releases.
Tons of spanish mackerel and bluefish are in the inlet and just off the beach.
Inshore, some red drum are on the flats, with the occasional speckled trout around.
Surf fishing has been producing good numbers of spanish mackerel for those casting Stingsilvers and similar metal jigs.
Joey, of Fingeance Sportfishing, reports that anglers have been hooking bluefish while sight-casting artificials and topwater plugs.
With speckled trout numbers low, gray trout have been the main focus for trout anglers.
A few cobia have started to show up off the beach.
On windier days, fresh cut baits have found a few big red drum.
Aaron, of Tightline Charters, reports that plenty of bluefish (in the 3-4 lb. range) are around for anglers looking to sight-cast jigs and topwater plugs into surface-feeding frenzies.
Schools of spanish mackerel are mixed in.
The big drum have started pushing into the inlets, and this means breaking out fresh cut baits to fish ledges and channel edges.
Sheepshead are on structure and ARs back in the sound.
Peter, of Wann Sportfishing, reports that anglers are finding good action throwing or trolling metals or spoons to schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel just off the beach.
This time of year is also a great time to fish bait in the inlets, as the bull reds start moving in.
Flounder can be found by fishing flats or structure near the inlet.
Scattered red drum are on the inside flats and are mostly being caught with Carolina-rigged cut baits.
Jeremy, of Calypso Sportfishing, reports that runs offshore have produced great numbers of mahi that are mostly being found under grass patties.
The area around Southeast Rock has been producing double-digits of blackfin tuna.
Some billfish are still around, especially sailfish.
Tim, of Rabid Tuna Charters, reports that the mahi bite has been strong, with a good mix of slingers and some gaffers. The bite varies day to day, with trips finding fish scattered across multiple depths.
When targeting the offshore rocks, anglers are seeing better numbers of blackfin tuna, and wahoo can be picked up on high-speed setups or while pulling baits deep on the planer rod.
Tim, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that the bluefish bite is good from the surf, with a class of 4-5 lb. fish being caught with cut mullet. Some puppy drum are mixed in for anglers fishing cut baits.
Smaller bottom setups rigged with sand fleas or shrimp are producing a good pompano bite.
The sea mullet have been consistent on the smaller baits.
Anglers fishing nearshore are catching a bunch of bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
A few cobia have been hooked by nearshore anglers.
Back in the sound, the big red drum action is picking up, mostly from deeper in the sound and towards the mainland rivers.
