Ocean Isle – May 7, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that fishing has come around significantly over the past weeks, and anglers are finding plenty of action from the beach to the Gulf Stream. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have shown up along the beachfront and will eagerly bite Clarkspoons trolled with planers and torpedo weights.
Jim Anderson, of Holden Beach, with a fat scamp grouper that struck a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig in 350′ of water near the Steeples. He was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Some Atlantic bonito have been feeding around structure in the 50’ depths, and anglers can tempt them to bite Clarkspoons as well or cast metal jigs to fish chasing bait on the surface.
Offshore, a warm-water eddy broke off the Gulf Stream and produced some excellent trolling action in 100-140’ of water last week. Most of the action was inshore of the Blackjack Hole and 100/400, but the water is always on the move so anglers may have to do some hunting to find good water and active fish. Wahoo and dolphin are making up the bulk of the blue water action, and both are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches.
There’s also been plenty of blackfin tuna action around the Steeples. The blackfins will bite ballyhoo as well, but baitless lures like cedar plugs can be even more effective at times.
Several blue marlin were released in the Stream off Brunswick County over the weekend as well.
Kyle, of Speculator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with red and black drum around Ocean Isle. The best spots have been in the creeks between Ocean Isle and Dunn Sound, and the fish seem to be holding close to the mouths. Softshell crabs are showing up around the area, and chunks of them are by far the best bets for anglers looking to hook up with either drum at present.
Flounder fishing remains good in Tubbs Inlet, Cherry Grove, and other known flatfish spots in the area. Many of the fish are still small, but the keeper ratio is improving and should continue to do so as the season wears on. Live mud minnows and other small fish and Gulp baits are producing the majority of the flatfish, and anglers who can find menhaden or other slightly larger baits will up their odds of landing keepers.
There’s finally been a bit of a speckled trout bite around the Little River jetties, although it’s still a bit slower than usual for early May. Anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp fished beneath floats.
Good numbers of larger (27-36”) red drum are also feeding around the jetties and biting the shrimp. Live mud minnows will fool the reds as well.
Spanish mackerel have shown up off Ocean Isle, and boats found some decent spanish action while trolling the 40’ depths last week. A few Atlantic bonito are mixed in with the mackerel, particularly out in 50-60’ of water.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for live baits fished on the bottom.
Plug casters are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas.
