Ocean Isle April 24, 2014
Isaiah Miller and Jake Frick with a pair of red drum that bit blue crab chunks near Ocean Isle Beach while they were fishing with Capt. Jacob Frick of J&J Inshore Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers found some solid wahoo action before the full moon last week. The bite was best in 150-200’ of water around local blue water hotspots like the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole, with skirted ballyhoo producing most of the action. Anglers can also tempt the ‘hoos to bite baitless high-speed lures while covering more ground to find the active fish.
King mackerel have made their appearance around Frying Pan Tower, and boats hooked some good numbers last week. Trolling dead cigar minnows near suspended bait in upper-60’s water temperatures is the way to connect with the spring kings, and the fish should be moving toward the beaches as nearshore water temperatures climb.
Bottom fishermen are still finding plenty of black sea bass around structure in 50-80’ of water, with the deeper spots producing more and larger keepers than in shallow. Multi-hook bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits are tough for the sea bass to turn down.
Kyle, of Speckulator Charters, reports that the inconsistent weather is still hindering the ability to establish a reliable pattern on the area’s inshore fish, but the action does seem to be slowly improving overall.
Nesbit Noble with a blackfin tuna that bit a cigar minnow near Frying Pan Tower while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Red drum are feeding in the shallow creeks and around ICW structure from Ocean Isle to Little River. Anglers are fooling some of the reds with artificials, but live mud minnows and blue crab chunks fished on Carolina rigs have been more productive lately. Some black drum are in the same areas and taking an interest in the crabs as well.
Flounder fishing is getting better by the week, and early-season hotspots like Cherry Grove and Tubbs Inlet have begun to see some consistent flatfish action. They’re trickling into many of the other normal spots as well. Per usual, many of the fish are on the small side, but anglers are landing some keepers, too, and the keeper/short ratio should improve by the week. Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the flatfish.
Speckled trout are feeding at many of their springtime haunts in the creeks and the ICW, and anglers are hooking decent numbers on soft plastics. The large female trout should begin biting better in the coming weeks, and anglers can expect to see some large specks taken at the Little River jetties over the coming month.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and small flounder while bottom fishing from the pier. Shrimp is producing most of the action.
