When and what are best in spring from Hateras

[satterly]

Normally go down at the end of summer and hit the mahi but would like to go down this spring some time and try for some different stuff. What normally the best time and whats there to be had? Is there anything to drop to the bottom for that time of year if other things don't work out. Thanks in advance.

--John

[jtb67]

If you are not in Hatteras in May/June I wouldn't even bother. You can have a shot at anything that time of the year. Huge mahi,malin,yft and the list goes on.

[gary49]

You never know with Hatteras. I would just watch the reports to see what is biting. Just for instance, they have been jigging up large blackfin tuna lately. There is generally an early Spring yellowfin bite that can be very good, although it hasn't been great the last couple of years. King Mackeral are almost always around, not necessarily big ones, but we get some almost any time of the year, with fall being the time for the great live bait bite--big ones, many of them. Also there is usually a good run of nice gaffer dolphin, year before last in April there was an absolutely great gaffer bite, the fish box would get full really quick. Nothing is out of the question, there have been blue marlin caught out of Hatteras in January. Should be bottom fishing for multiple species in the Spring, one of the best trips I ever had was out of Hatteras in late March, when we were supposed to be trolling--well, that was pretty dead, just some false albacore, so the Capt. asked if we wanted to do some bottom fishing after we had trolled 'til early afternoon. We said, "Sure". He put us on a spot where we had non-stop pullage, sea bass, triggerfish, red snapper, bee-liners, more than 400# of fish in just a couple of hours.

[torquetowers]

If you are not in Hatteras in May/June I wouldn't even bother. You can have a shot at anything that time of the year. Huge mahi,malin,yft and the list goes on.

Go every year in the middle of june, one day well be dropping to grouper in 600 feet.

Next day bailing and spearing mahi 5 miles off the beach under the massive weed line.

Or do both in the same day

[sushiman50]

Ditto on the variety in Spring out of Hatteras Inlet. I like doing the weedlines first for dolphin and wahoo, then move a little further out for tuna depending on where the weedlines are and where the tuna (if any) are being caught, then move in to the wrecks in the afternoon for a quick anchor and bottom fish session in 60 to 90 feet of water. Spanish are usually also thick in the Spring just south of the inlet off Ocracoke just outside the breakers (15 to 30 feet of water) if you want some for marlin baits or just pullage for kids and ladies. My commercial fishermen neighbor does well on the Spanish netting in the Spring and Summer in that area. He usually gets me some fresh stud spanish for the WMO and I've found the makos like them on overnighters.

[kendall]

THERES PLENTY OF TUNA IN THE SPRING WITH A MIX OF mAKOS, KINGS AND WAHOO EVERY NOW AND THEN.....ON THE TROLL
PLENTY OF MEAT ON THE WRECKS IF YOU CAN GET AWAY FORM THE BLUES.....

[lmontagnaj]

Hatteras can be GREAT ANY TIME OF YEAR. I've caught plenty of fish every time I've fished Hatteras. I personally like the early Gaffer and Wahoo bite. Then we slip over the edge and start looking for billfish. Lots of FUN.

Right now the boats are jigging some nice tuna off the rocks as well as having fun c&r amberjacks. Like said above, plenty of Bottom Creatures too.

Catchem Up..

[carey]

i love hatteras in the spring....epic fishing....bottom fishing is usually better this time of year because the heavy currents haven't moved in as much towards the ledge....with less current its much easier to catch offshore bottom fish.........oh yah and the best part is really big and REALLY STUPID GAFFERS!

add in a few shots a various sized drum off the surf and you can have potential for a whole lot of fun.....

[satterly]

Thanks alot will try and get down there in May some time. Will b e watching for some reports to get some intel before we go.