Ocean Isle July 21, 2011
Jeter Allred with a 24 lb. scamp that inhaled a butterflied beeliner in 120' of water while he and his wife Kathy were fishing on the headboat "Westwind" out of Calabash.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite is a little slow for this time of year, but the fish are scattered throughout many of their usual summertime haunts. Spots in the 60-70’ range have been the most productive recently. Live menhaden are the best baits for the kings. They’ve been plentiful lately, but a bit further offshore than normal (in 25-30’).
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and just offshore, particularly around the schools of menhaden. Trolled Clarkspoons or small live baits will get attention from the spaniards.
Large sharks are feeding nearshore as well (mostly blacktips and blacknoses). It won’t take them long to find a cut bait from anglers who are looking to battle one of the brutes.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the area’s flounder fishing remains solid. Last week, the fish were feeding shallow in the ICW, with anglers catching good numbers in skinny water near the shorelines and other structure. The Tubbs Inlet flatfish bite remains solid as well. Small live menhaden on Carolina rigs have been producing the best results on the flounder lately.
Red and black drum are still feeding in the area’s marshy creeks at lower tides. Live shrimp on jigheads have been highly effective on both lately.
There’s also been a solid red drum bite on the flooded grass flats at higher tides (with many fish 25-30”+). Chunks of crab are tempting most of the bites in the grass.
A few reds are also feeding at the Little River jetties, but that bite has slowed a bit over the past week.
Some speckled trout are finally showing up in numbers, and anglers are catching them while casting float-rigged live shrimp in Dunn Sound and near Calabash.
Tristan Wells, of Winston-Salem, NC, with a 16.75" flounder he caught in Shallotte Inlet.
Jacob, of J&J Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s still a decent flounder bite inshore in the area around the inlets and structure.
The flatfish are also feeding on the nearshore reefs, which often offer more consistent fishing in the heat of summer. Live finger mullet and shrimp are fooling the flounder inshore and outside the inlets.
Some red drum (most 18-22”) are feeding around the Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach bridges and at docks and other structure along the ICW, and live shrimp are also getting their attention.
There’s been a better drum bite at the Little River jetties, where the fish are falling for live and dead shrimp.
Samantha, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some whiting and bluefish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Anglers are also fooling the blues while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
