Ocean Isle August 21, 2008

Hunter Kendall, from Asheville, NC, Hunter Bercunias, and Tripp Hooks, from Ocean Isle, with three spadefish they hooked on pieces of jelly ball while fishing at the General Sherman. They were fishing with Capt. David Hooks, of Capt. Hook Outdoors in Ocean Isle.

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that spanish mackerel have been feeding well along the beaches over the past week. They’re averaging slightly larger than the usual beach spanish (18-24″), and most boats are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons.

The king mackerel bite has been a little slow at many of the inshore areas, but the bite has been solid at spots in 85′ and deeper. The Frying Pan Tower and surrounding bottom areas have been productive, too. Live baits like cigar minnows and pogies are attracting the largest kings.

Boats making the run out to the Gulf Stream are hooking up with good numbers of wahoo around the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole (with at least one boat limiting out recently). Most of the fish are 20-35 lbs., but some up to 60 lbs. were caught last week. Ballyhoo with dark skirts trolled behind planers are drawing most of the wahoo bites.

Not many people have been bottom fishing recently, but the beeliners are stacked up at structure in 80-100′.

John Stevens III, from Charlotte, NC, with a 30 lb. African pompano that fell for a live pogy in 100'. He was fishing with Capt. Brant McMullan of Ocean Isle Fishing Center.

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there’s been a solid red drum and speckled trout bite around the Little River jetties over the past week. Small live pogies fished beneath floats have been attracting attention from the trout (most 2-3 lbs.) and reds (18-30+”).

The spanish mackerel action has been excellent in Little River Inlet as well. Anglers fishing live finger mullet and peanut pogies fished weightless are hooking big numbers of the spanish (with some up to 5 lbs.).

A few flounder are still coming out of the inlets, but with the hot water the bite has been best at the nearshore wrecks and reefs lately. Live pogies or finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are attracting bites from the flatfish.

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel bite has been on at the Jungle, Shark Hole, and other spots in 65-70′ recently. Live pogies are getting bites from the kings (most are from school-sized up to 20 lbs.).

Spanish mackerel are feeding from the beaches out to 70′, and they have been busting bait on the surface violently when they’re feeding. When the fish surface, casting Gotcha plugs into the action has been producing quick strikes.

Spadefish are schooled up on much of the nearshore structure. The bite was especially good around AR-445 last week, when anglers landed spades up to 10 lbs. on pieces of cannonball jellyfish.

Bottom fishermen have been finding a decent grouper bite at structure in 100+’ lately, mostly with scamps. Live baits are attracting the most attention from the groupers, and pinfish have been especially effective.

Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout and flounder on live shrimp in the mornings.

Plug casters are hooking up with a few bluefish and spanish mackerel.

The water is around 78 degrees.

by Gary Hurley