Although we enjoy four- wheel drive access throughout the summer in the middle of the island, four-wheel  drive beach access at the south end of the island usually opens as the breeding season for nesting shorebirds ends in August.

Toward the end of the month we also see the first signs of finger mullet moving. While puppy drum catches become more prevalent and flounder fishing improves, pompano and Spanish mackerel continue to be some of the most targeted surf fish. Black drum, sea mullets, and small bluefish round out the surf catches. The most popular surf fishing baits are mullet, shrimp, and sand fleas, while those targeting Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be casting and retrieving stingsilver type lures. Successful pompano and sea mullet fishermen will be fishing close to the beach, making short casts to these fish that are feeding on sand fleas in the near surf.

Inshore fishing also heats up as flounder and puppy drum fishing improves. Spanish mackerel fishing continues to be hot with many catching their limits trolling clark spoons and drone spoons. Big red drum, citation sized fish of over 40 inches, start to show up for late evening bait fishermen working the shoals inside. Black drum, triggerfish, and pompano will be included in the bait fishing catches for those fishing shrimp, sand fleas, or squid. A king mackerel or two will be caught in the inlet, either on live bait or by someone trolling for Spanish mackerel.

Offshore fishing will include a mix of dolphin, kings, wahoo, amberjack, sailfish, marlin, and possibly an African pompano. Expect to find small dolphin as close as 5 miles or so, with the larger fish being found further offshore. Weedlines and wrecks will hold plenty of fish in the warm late summer Gulf Stream water. Late summer brings the Gulf Stream close to Ocracoke Inlet, with flying fish (and the game fish feeding on them) being found just a few miles out.

See recent catches and read the current fishing reports at Tradewinds Tackle on Facebook or www.tradewindstackle.com