Ocean Isle July 25, 2013
Tony and Cade Sawyer, of Richmond, VA, and Matt Dowdy, of Ocean Isle, with king mackerel and a cobia that bit live menhaden off Ocean Isle Beach while they were fishing with Terry Johnson.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still seeing a decent king mackerel bite at spots in the 65-80’ depths off Ocean Isle right now. Both live baits (like menhaden) and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kingfish.
A few dolphin and cobia have been feeding in the same areas and are biting the same baits. Anglers are also reporting an occasional sailfish encounter in that depth range.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been slow along the Ocean Isle beachfront, but boats running to the east are hooking some once they get past Lockwood Folly Inlet. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling the majority of the spaniards. Boats heading offshore have also encountered some large schools of the smaller mackerel in around 50’ of water off Ocean Isle, and the fish have been very cooperative in the deeper water.
Not many boats have made the run to the Gulf Stream lately, but those who have are connecting with some dolphin. One boat also reported a triple header of blue marlin bites, releasing one 250 lb. class fish after the others broke off. The marlin were only in 140’ of water, so anglers who do make the run to the blue water may have some surprising encounters.
Kyle, of Speckulator Charters, reports that there’s been a solid speckled trout bite in the area recently, particularly in the morning and evening hours (with several 5+ lb. fish caught last week). Live shrimp fished under floats are fooling the majority of the specks, and anglers are finding them along the Little River jetties and shell beds and banks in Calabash Creek and around Little River.
Some red drum, black drum, and sheepshead are mixed in with the specks and also taking an interest in live shrimp.
Lewis Player, of Fayetteville, NC, with a speckled trout that bit a live bait near Oak Island. He was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Flounder fishing inshore in the area hasn’t been on fire lately, but anglers are coming across some keeper flatfish in many of the usual spots, including Tubbs Inlet, the Ocean Isle canals, and the Shallotte River. Live finger mullet, menhaden, and shrimp are all fooling the flounder.
The flounder bite around nearshore structure in the ocean is just getting kicked off, and boats had some good trips out to structure like AR-460 last week. The flatfish should be holding at the nearshore structure whenever anglers get the weather to make it out to them.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are starting to see a good flounder bite at nearshore structure off Shallotte and Little River inlets. Big numbers of sharks are mixed in, but those who weed through the sharks should be able to put together some decent flounder catches. Larger live menhaden and mullet seem to have been the best bets at oceanic spots lately.
Anglers are connecting with some speckled trout, sheepshead, and over-slot red drum at the Little River jetties. Drifting live shrimp under floats has been tempting bites from all three fish.
There’s also a decent trout bite inshore along the banks of area creeks and the ICW lately, and float-rigged shrimp are getting the job done inshore as well.
Some red drum are mixed in with the specks along the banks, and they are also feeding around oyster rocks in the creeks at lower tides. Live shrimp or mud minnows pinned to jigheads will draw strikes from the reds.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and spot on shrimp and bloodworms pinned to bottom rigs.
A few trout are falling for live shrimp fished near the pier.
