I grew up fishing my grandmother’s country farm pond that held some really big bass. As a kid, I would walk down her long dirt road on summer days by myself to try and wrestle a 4-5 pound largemouth on a top water Hula-popper. After catching several of these as a kid, I was hooked for life! Today I’m blessed to live on Hatteras Island where fish can be caught year round with many species offshore, inshore and in the surf.
Fall is one of my favorite times on the Outer Banks because of the incredible fishing. Like clockwork, in September the baitfish exit the sound and scurry into the awaiting surf for temporary shelter. To the baitfish’s surprise, there are many flounder, blue fish and others awaiting their arrival!
As the air and water temps drop in November and December, the other highly targeted and coveted fish arrives “speckle trout”. Until l moved here 9 years ago, I never knew how much fun and challenging this fish could be! There is much knowledge that the “old buoys” hold in their memory banks on how to catch trout in the different water conditions. I have stood beside several of these anglers as they took me to school. A few years back on a cold winter day I remember my buddy, Kevin McCabe, caught ten trout right beside me and I caught two. He frustrated the other ten anglers beside us, as they caught nothing. At least he was kind enough to give me a few (he could not carry them all).
The Hatteras Island fall fishing of 2013 has been incredible! The puppy drums have been thick on most days and there have been a mix of speckle trout. To top it off the flounder are still here in December which is an added bonus to table fare.
The above picture was taken at Cape Point while fishing New Years Day 2014. There was bait everywhere and the Gannets were pounding them.
Living the Dream! – Trafton Reynolds