Hatteras Offshore Bluefin Bites: Boats Land 50-52 Inch Fish and Releases

A 52-inch bluefin came aboard Bite Me off Hatteras on February 28, and follow-up trips March 1 and March 4 logged additional keeper and released bluefin, according to Hatteras Harbor Marina fishing reports. The Feb 28 entry notes Bite Me "released several and boated a 52" Tuna," while the March 1 log says Hatteras Blue "released some big Bluefin Tuna and boated a keeper size Tuna."

Frisco Rod & Gun's March 4 local report framed the week as springlike and flagged offshore action with a blunt "Offshore: Bluefin Tuna!" Frisco posted a high of 66°F and low of 52°F for the day, current conditions at posting of 55°F (feels like 53°F) with SW winds around 6 mph and gusts up to 19 mph, and listed sound water temperatures at 52–54°F and ocean water at about 50°F. The shop also wrote "Today was a peek into Spring again."

Fisherman’s Post contributed a detailed catch report: Brandon Maceachran landed a bluefin "on a naked ballyhoo in 30 fathoms of 68 degree water offshore of Hatteras" while fishing with Capt. Timothy Quigley of Rabid Tuna Sportfishing. Riley of Hatteras Jack summed up local guide chatter when he said "bluefin tuna for the offshore crowd has been the top bite recently, and the action doesn’t seem to be slowing down out there anytime too soon."

SeaTemperature and WorldBeachGuide pages show a wide range of temperature readings for the area that week. Their site listed surface values of 45.3°F on March 5 and 46.8°F on March 6, while a Cape Hatteras Beach page on the same service gave 15.6°C / 60.1°F and hourly forecast panels near 61°F for March 6. Those contrasts sit alongside the Frisco sound and ocean numbers and the 68°F reading at 30 fathoms tied to Maceachran's catch.

Inshore and surf notes appeared separately in Fisherman’s Post, which predicted puppy drum action picking up and warned that smaller species such as whiting, pufferfish, and croakers would follow as waters change. Fisherman’s Post also recorded a 50-inch red drum pulled from the Hatteras surf at Ramp 43 by Brent Crenshaw using a piece of whiting. Heather of Frank and Fran’s reported that "fishing efforts and production have been basically nonexistent with the really cold winter pushing water temperatures way down" and said sea mullet and bluefish would likely be the first signs of warming.

Sea-state tables on SeaTemperature showed March 6 wave heights in the 3'7" to 3'11" range and listed Hatteras Island salinity at 34.07‰. Fisherman’s Post additionally noted that Rodanthe Pier and Avon Pier were closed at the time of the reports.

Across three independent local sources — Hatteras Harbor Marina logs, Frisco Rod & Gun, and Fisherman’s Post with Capt. Timothy Quigley and Hatteras Jack — the consistent picture for early March is active offshore bluefin encounters: boats are catching and releasing multiple large bluefin, with recorded boats landing a 52-inch fish and reports of keeper-sized tuna between February 28 and March 4.