Ocean Isle – September 10, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are starting to see classic signs of fall along the Brunswick County beaches. Large schools of mullet are moving down the shoreline, and the spanish mackerel bite has turned on in the same vicinity. Anglers can hook the spaniards while trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons, cast metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface, or target the larger fish by live-baiting with finger mullet on scaled-down king mackerel rigs.
The kings should begin moving towards the beachfront as well when the water temperature begins to drop, and the fall beach bite often presents some of the best king action of the year. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are top choices for the kings once they hit the beaches. Anglers should still be able to find some offshore at spots in 50-70’ of water as well, and dead cigar minnows will also produce results when the kings are offshore.
Wahoo are still feeding at local blue water hotspots like the Winyah Scarp. The ‘hoos will bite ballyhoo paired with skirted lures, particularly in dark colors, or baitless lures that anglers can troll faster to cover more water.
Randy Brock, of Pickens, SC, with the new state record jolthead porgy, a 14 lb., 14 oz. fish that bit a squid tentacle bait while he was fishing bottom fishing offshore of Ocean Isle on the “Game On.”
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing big numbers of finger mullet begin to push out the area’s inlets, and solid fall fishing will come right behind the mullet. Anglers can look forward to the arrival of large red drum (30-40”+) around the Little River jetties in the coming weeks. Drifting through the inlet with live or cut mullet and menhaden is the way to connect with the reds when they show up.
Anglers are also eagerly waiting to see if the large reds will be shadowing menhaden pods in the ocean as they did last fall, leading to some excellent weeks of fishing.
Anglers are also hooking some red drum in the area’s shallow creeks. Most are falling for live mullet and shrimp fished on the bottom, but anglers have also had good luck convincing the reds to bite topwater plugs over the past week.
Flounder are still feeding in Tubbs Inlet, around structure like docks in the ICW, and in the area’s residential canals. The flatfish will bite live baits like finger mullet and peanut menhaden.
August saw surprisingly good speckled trout action around Ocean Isle, which should get even better as the water begins to cool in September. The trout will bite live shrimp fished under floats along with a variety of artificial lures. Grass and shell banks with some current flow along with the Little River jetties are the spots to find the specks.
Black drum are still feeding around some of the area’s docks and biting live and cut shrimp well. Some reds have been mixed in, particularly at night.
The outflux of mullet is also leading to some solid spanish mackerel action around the area’s inlets. Anglers can tempt the spaniards to bite topwater and suspending plugs or use live mullet on light wire leaders.
Tracey Watts with a red drum that she hooked on a live finger mullet near Sunset Beach while fishing with her husband.
Tommy, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports bottom fishermen have been catching a variety of fish including black drum, spot, croaker, and pinfish. Most of the panfish are caught on shrimp and blood worms.
Bluefish have been schooling in large numbers and are often caught on Gotcha Plugs and live bait such as finger mullet.
