Ocean Isle – May 29, 2014
Ben and Kaden Milliken with a pair of slot red drum that bit live mud minnows near Southport.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the dolphin bite has slowed down locally, but anglers are still picking up a few at local Gulf Stream spots like the Blackjack Hole and 100/400. There seemed to be somewhat better action to the north of the other side of Frying Pan Shoals last weekend. The dolphin and any stray blackfin tuna or wahoo in the area will all fall for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
King mackerel are still a bit spotty, but anglers caught some at spots in 65’ and deeper last week. Live menhaden are producing most of the action with the kings.
Cobia have shown back up, with some action closer to the beaches and some out in the areas where anglers are king fishing. Live baits and bucktail jigs will attract attention from the cobia.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that backwater fishing is heating up, and anglers had some excellent action inshore over the past week. Flounder, speckled trout, and red drum are all feeding in the inshore marshes and around structure in the rivers and ICW. Fishing the flats during high tides and the docks on lower tides is the best bet for the inshore predators, and anglers hooked some large examples of all three last weekend on peanut menhaden.
Spanish mackerel fishing has turned back on, and anglers are boxing up big numbers of the tasty mackerel while pulling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Some large sharks are feeding in the same areas as the spaniards and won’t take long to find a smelly cut bait in the area.
Cobia have been a bit scarce since the cool weather two weekends back, but anglers found several in 40’ of water while black sea bass fishing last week.
Joe Badger, of Ash County, NC, with a fat speckled trout that bit a live menhaden near Holden Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Kyle, of Speckulator Charters, reports that anglers are seeing continued flounder action all over the area, with a much better keeper/throwback ratio right now, and most days producing some legal fish. They’re feeding in Tubbs Inlet, the Shallotte River, and just about all the other known flounder spots in the area. Live mud minnows and peanut pogies on Carolina rigs have produced most of the flatfish action.
Red drum are still feeding in some of their summer spots in the creeks and around docks and other structure in the ICW. Live mud minnows and crab chunks remain the best options for anglers looking to hook up with the reds right now.
Speckled trout are staging in their summer areas along the ICW as well, and the action should remain solid for much of the warm season. Soft plastic swimbaits, paddletails, and shrimp imitations have been fooling most of the specks.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and attacking Clarkspoons and Gotcha plugs.
Anglers are seeing the first sheepshead of the year around the Little River jetties and ICW docks and bridges. Fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits will convince the sheeps to bite.
Steven Dombrowski with a 22.7 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish off Oak Island Pier.
Robbie, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that some sea mullet and spot are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier when clean water is within casting range.
A few cobia have also been seen and hooked from the pier recently.
