Hatteras Island Fishing Reports

Offshore, Near Shore, Pamlico Sound Fishing Reports

5/17/2026 Speck Tackler Light Tackle

  • Speck-Tackler charter with great catch Pamlico Sound, NC.
  • Speck-Tackler charter with great catch out of Pamlico Sound, NC.
  • Speck-Tackle charter with great catch out of Pamlico Sound, NC.
  • Speck-Tackle charter with great catch out of Pamlico Sound, NC.

Another good day with Susan and Alan Updike. We had a mixed bag of sheepshead, bluefish and red drum. Speck-Tackler Light Tackle Charters.

5/17/2026 Gecko Sportfishing

  • Gecko charter with great catch out of Ocracoke, NC.
  • Gecko charter with great catch out of Ocracoke, NC.

The HVOO Tournament is over and the charter boats are getting back to normal fishing. May is known as a great time to catch the largest mahi as they aremigrating to the north. It's a great time to stock up the freezer and enjoy the fishing at the same time. This catch wa on Gecko on Sunday. Gecko Sportfishing, Ocracoke Island

5/14/2026 Hatteras Village Offshore Open

Reel Priority blue marlin.

Reel Priority is still holding strong to first place with their first day catch of a 487 pound blue marlin in the HVOO. Hatteras Village Offshore Open

5/14/2026 Longer Days Sportfihing

  • Longer Days charter with great catch out of Hatteras, NC.
  • Longer Days charter with great catch out of Hatteras, NC.

The wives jumped in the picture once back at the dock, but it was Paul and Jeff that got it done all on their own. They had Hunter hopping when we finally found them, but he kept them going until we had a limit. We wore Paul out and he said to go home. It was a slow wet ride all the way in, but there’s going to be some mahi in the freezers in Colorado and Western NC soon with plenty dinners to come.Longer Days Sportfishing.

5/13/2026 Hatteras Village Offshore Open

First Look crew with their 480 pound blue marlin weighed today.

First Look weighed in a 479 pound blue marlin which was slightly smaller than Reel Priority's 487 pound leader in the HVOO. Hatteras Village Offshore Open

5/13/2026 Stormy Petrel

Stormy Petrel group with big catch of spanish mackerel..

Spanish Mackerel have arrived in force. We just have a couple of days available this month, but they should still be around in June and we still have several days open then. This is easy fishing close to the beach and we have room for the whole family on our boat Stormy Petrel Charters.

5/13/2026 Sea Dream Sportfishing

Sea Dream charter angler behind blackfin tuna catch.

Our charter had a one man show today and we gave him quite a workout. Today was was a banner blackfin tuna fishing day out there. Sea Dream Sportfishing

5/13/2026 Speck Tackler Pamlico Sound

  • Allen with massive sheepshead.
  • Susan with massive sheepshead.
  • Capt. Rick showing off large sheepshead it.
  • Susan and Allen standing with there day's catch back at the marina.

Capt.Rick and group had another good day on sheepshead and Susan and Allen Updike plus they hit the right spot for the larger size ones. There wasn't any need for culling, which means throwing back small fish and only keeping the large fish. Fish that live to the age sheephead do might become educated to boat noise and particular areas if too many fish are caught and released. I guess time will tell. Speck-Tackler Light Tackle Charters.

5/10/2026 Sea Dream Sportfishing

Sea Dream charter group behind blackfin tuna catch.

We had a pretty day today and the fish were hungry. We had a good catch of blackfin tuna, so sushi and tuna steaks for dinner! We only have a couple days left open in May (14th, 15th, 22nd, 24th, and 25th). June is also filling up, so get up with us to get booked before it’s gone! Sea Dream Sportfishing

5/10/2026 Gecko (Drumrunner)

  • Mother's Day trip off Ocracoke.
  • Angler fighting large red drum.
  • Angler showing off large red drum before releasing it.

We had a little Mother’s Day trip this morning for Darlene on the Drumrunner. We have some time available starting Wednesday this week for both offshore or inshore. May fishing is awesome here on Ocracoke! 252-921-0095

5/7/2026 Sea Dream Walk-On Trip

May mahi catch from last season on Sea Dream.

Update: JUST A COUPLE SPOTS LEFT

Walk on opportunity: Sea Dream has set Friday May 8th for a walk-on charter for anyone that has been unable to get a full group of 6 together. ($375 per person which includes the mate’s tip.) Offshore fishing is really heating up now for mahi, tuna and possibly some grouper and tile if current and weather allows.

Leaving out of Hatteras! Sea Dream Sportfishing

May is Mahi Month at Hatteras

Colorful OBX mahi.

Some of the largest mahi of the year are caught in May here at Hatteras.

Hatteras Village Offshore Open 5/12 to 5/16

Image of marlin being weighed at Hatteras Village Offshore Open

Every year the kick off tournament for the NC Billfish Series is the Hatteras Village Offshore Open (May 12-16, 2026). Proceeds from the tournament support the Hatteras Village Civic Association in their mission to continue providing scholarships to college bound village residents as well as supporting charitable causes within the community. Many local boats are still available to charter for this tournament but even if you don't want to fish just joining in the social events is worth the trip plus you'll get to see some really big fish.

5/4/2026 Gecko Sportfishing

Nice blue marlin being leadered on Gecko.

Capt. Ernie wanted me to remind everyone that with the weather finally breaking to the better he has a couple days open next week and is anxious to get folks out there to catch some nice Ocracoke fish offshore. He also said they are available for the Big Rock Ladies Tournament on June 6th and the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament June 8th thru the 13th. Give Capt. Ernie a call 252-921-0095 for the charter fishing experience you'll never forget.

5/4/2026 Sea Dream Sportfishing

Sea Dream charter group with catch.

Sea Dream reports that it was a pretty day offshore today and although it started slow the fish eventually cooperated in the afternoon. First they had a few nice mahi bites that somehow managed to get unpinned and they had a sailfish follow a lure that wouldn’t commit and dropped off. Eventually the day was saved with blackfin tuna and a wahoo for the dinner table! The Sunday weather looks great right now and Sea Dream reports that day is still open so come on down and enjoy the awesome May bite here at Cape Hatteras.

5/4/2026 Speck-Tackler Light Tackle Charters

Speck Tackler charter group with catch.

Capt. Rick reported it was a windy afternoon trip with Chris Ford and his friends, Ron and Ted from Ohio. They really spent a lot of time trying to find the red drum, but ran all over the area and was always in the wrong places at the wrong times. However the guys did catch some nice bluefish on light tackle.

4/26/2026 Sea Dream Sportfishing

Sea Dream charter group with catch.

We started out trying to jig up some blackfin tuna, but there was a lot of wind driven current today. So we switched gears and started trolling. Unfortunately it was a slow pick throughout this day. We did find some mahi in the afternoon. We have some days open coming up and the big gaffer mahi are starting to show up and also the tuna bite is still good so let's get out there.

4/26/2026 Speck-Tackler

Speck Tackler charter group with catch.

Another very windy day, however, Tripp, Doug and Mitch from South Carolina brought home a limit of 3 to 5 pound bluefish. Last year, Mitch landed a 58 pound cobia on a 15 pound test puppy drum rod, while we were site fishing on very shallow water in the sound. Capt Rick Scarborough

4/24/2026 Speck-Tackler Pamlico Sound

  • Father and sons display their catch.
  • Son fighting nice bluefish.
  • Capt. Rick and young angler with nice Pamlico Sound bluefish.
  • Dad catches big red rum.

Second day of the season and it was blowing even harder out of the Southwest. However, we were able to capture some bluefish and our limit of keeper size drum with Brandon Bias and his sons, Sam and Josh. They visit the Outer Banks a couple times a year from the great state of Maine and bring me home made Maple syrup and/or lobsters. Thanks folks for a fun fishing trip. Speck-Tackler Light Tackle Charters.

4/21/2026 Gecko Sportfishing (Ocracoke)

  • Massive school of giant red drum.
  • Gecko charter customers holding large red drum.
  • Gecko charter customers holding large red drum.
  • Gecko charter customers holding large red drum.
  • Gecko charter customers holding large red drum.
  • Gecko charter customers holding large red drum.Spring Has Sprung

This is what you are missing by not making a trip to Ocracoke and getting in on the incredible fishing for massive schools of red drum. Contact Capt. Ernie and enjoy fishing for these brutes. Gecko Sportfishing, Ocracoke Island

4/20/2026 Longer Days Sportfishing

  • Longer Days mate gaffs tuna
  • Longer Days mate gaffs yet another tuna
  • Full fish box of Hatteras tuna

This morning Longer Days decided to leave a bit later and stay inside the current which worked out perfectly ending up a pretty day. Fishing was hot and they had a full of tuna fish box by 1pm and had to put the last few blackfin tuna in the ice box. Sometimes you need to lay up to get a prettier shot! They'll be going to the boatyard next week, but they still have this weekend open if anyone wants to get in on this incredible fishing. Visit their online booking calendar and grab Saturday or Sunday.

4/20/2026 Stormy Petrel

Great catch on Stormy Petrel.

Finally back at it down here in Hatteras. We had a group of lifelong friends aboard today for a four hour trip. They wanted to do some bottom fishing, so we spent quite a while at that and caught plenty of bass but not many keepers. Fortunately there were some nice eating size king mackerel right there too. Back inside the bar, it was all the bluefish you wanted, and we stopped when they said they had enough fish.

4/18/2026 Sea Dream Sportfishing

Bags of ballyhoo for offshore trolling bait.

The weather and wind broke and we had an absolutely beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean. Our party ended up with a few blackfin tuna and a couple of skipjacks tuna! Thanks guys, we enjoyed fishing with you. This coming week looks pretty. Call us and we’ll get you out there for some fishing action. Sea Dream Sportfishing Charters.

4/9/2026 Gecko Charters

  • Young boy holding his first red drum.
  • Ocracoke anglers with two big red drum.
  • Father and son with father's huge red drum.

Meanwhile just south of Hatteras Inlet on Ocracoke Island there are massive schools of huge red drum collecting around the inlet. Capt. Ernie has been catching these fish for several years right around this time of year (April). What a great way this father has just introduced his young son to the awesome sport of red drum fishing! Gecko Sportfishing, Ocracoke Island

4/7/2026 Longer Days Sportfishing Charters

Real good tuna fishing today. Got pretty weather and open days the beginning of next week if anybody wants to come down while the fishing is good. Longer Days Sportfishing

4/3/2026 Sea Dream Charters

Bags of ballyhoo for offshore trolling bait.

Thanks to all who helped us have such a great bluefin season. They’ve moved on, but the blackfins have made a good showing, and the mahi are right behind them. We have a full bait freezer with new baits and some days are still open for prime time April, May, and June fishing. Tuna, mahi, and billfish make for great spring fishing. Give us a call, text, or Facebook message to get a date booked! Sea Dream Sportfishing Charters.

Cape Hatteras Action

Tuna chasing bait.

There is always something jumping at Cape Hatteras!

Jan to Mar 2026 Fishing Reports