Ocean Isle – November 12, 2015
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some solid speckled trout action around Ocean Isle, but it slowed down a bit after the warming trend over the past week. Anglers are still finding the fish around Shallotte and Lockwood Folly, as well as at all the typical trout spots along the ICW. There’s been a decent bite at the Little River jetties on many days as well. Live shrimp are the best bets for the specks, but anglers can also connect while casting a variety of soft and hard plastic artificials.
Good numbers of red drum (most 20-30”) are mixed in with the trout at the jetties, and they’re also taking an interest in live shrimp.
Anglers have also been surprised by some striped bass while trout fishing in recent weeks, as the fresh water influx the area’s experienced seems to have pushed them out of Little River and towards NC waters. Targeting the stripers specifically has produced some good catches for a few local anglers.
Some gray trout and flounder have been mixed in with the specks as well.
Red drum are starting to gather at shallow spots in the area’s creeks, but there’s been plenty of fishing pressure and the fish have been a bit wary to bite lately.
The water inshore is still unseasonably warm, and anglers may well see some of the best trout action of the year once it cools down a bit.
George Howard with his first saltwater fish, a 40 lb. cobia that struck a live bluefish at the Jolly Mon Reef while he was fishing with Capt. Brant McMullan of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers who make the run to the Gulf Stream are finding some solid wahoo and blackfin tuna action along with a few stray dolphin. Ballyhoo paired with sea witches and Blue Water Candy JAG lures are fooling most of the blue water predators.
Closer in, there’s been some solid grouper action at live bottoms and ledges in 70-85’ of water. Gag and scamp grouper are feeding around the structure and biting live cigar minnows well.
The king mackerel bite has been excellent at nearshore spots like the Cabbage Patch, Lighthouse Rocks, and Jungle, and anglers are putting together limit catches in short order on many days.
Brett Herndon with a 41″ red drum he caught and released off Sunset Beach Pier after it bit a live sea mullet.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some red-hot king mackerel action at spots off Brunswick County’s beaches in 50-70’ of water. Both live baits and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings as they feed heavily before moving offshore for the winter. A few cobia have also been mixed in and are biting the same offerings.
Hollie Gore, Sadie Nihoa, Alex and Dylan Stone, Connor Yates, and Devon Kendrick with black drum and sheepshead they hooked while fishing an Ocean Isle dock with live fiddler crabs.
