Hatteras September 15, 2011
Samuel Rigoli, of Monroe, NC, with his first gaffer dolphin. He hooked the fish ona skirted ballyhoo while trolling out Ocracoke near the Diamond Shoals sea buoy with John King on the "Blue Magic."
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the recovery effort from Hurricane Irene’s damage continues in the Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo area.
Crews are working to establish temporary bridges and fill in the parts of Hwy. 12 breached by Irene, and they are establishing early October as a tentative timetable for when visitors may again begin using the road.
Though the store received extensive flooding during the storm, all hopes are that it will re-open in some form around early October as well.
Not many have been fishing since there’s much work to be done to get things back in order, but plenty of fish have been around. Puppy drum, bluefish, speckled trout, and some big pompano have been on the feed in the sound.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are plentiful along the beaches, according to reports from surfers, and a school of cobia was also reported just off the sand last week.
Frank, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that the focus has been on recovering from Hurricane Irene rather than fishing lately.
Efforts are underway to rebuild Hwy. 12’s connection to the north end of Hatteras Island, and estimates of when it will again be usable are in the 30-45 day range.
Bob, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that fishing has been excellent lately, and anglers should see plenty of action when they make it back to the island.
Spanish mackerel have been feeding with abandon around the Point, and casting small metal lures from the beach has been producing limit catches for the few anglers out there.
Plenty of sea mullet have been falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms in the sloughs south of the Point.
Good numbers of pompano (3/4-1 lb. class) are visible feeding in the wash on the north side of the Point.
Bob, of Frisco Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers will be allowed back onto the southern portions of Hatteras Island starting Sept. 15 via ferry service through Ocracoke. Those who make the journey can expect to find action with spot, sea mullet, pompano, and other bottom feeders in the surf. Shrimp and bloodworms will tempt bites from all three.
Spanish mackerel should also be feeding near the beaches and giving anglers good opportunities to hook up while working small metal lures.
John "JAM" Mortensen, of JAM's Adventures, with speckled and gray trout he hooked on Gulp baits in the Pamlico Sound.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that visitors are being allowed back on the island via the Ocracoke ferries as of Sept. 15. The fishing has been good in the wake of Hurricane Irene, so there should be some action when nonresident anglers return to Hatteras Island.
Surf casters are reporting some bluefish and puppy drum from the beach at Buxton and the Point. Cut baits will tempt bites from both.
Anglers on the Frisco beach have been hooking some bluefish and sea mullet.
The beaches at Hatteras Inlet have been producing some excellent shelling lately, and anglers are catching some bluefish and sea mullet there as well.
Inshore boaters have been finding some action with speckled trout and slot-size puppy drum.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that Ocracoke is open for visitors, and the few who’ve arrived since Hurricane Irene have been catching some fish and enjoying a near-empty beach.
The ramp at the north end of the island still needs to be graded, but all of the other beach accesses are open and the beach is in good shape.
Surf casters are reporting some action with puppy drum and some bluefish on cut baits.
Pompano (most small but a few big ones) and sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Giggers have been finding plenty of flounder in the sound, so they’re around for anglers looking to hook up with a flatfish. Live baits and Gulps will tempt them to bite.
