Ocean Isle Winter 2009
Anna Fields (age 6) and her father Mike Fields, of Supply, with speckled trout caught in the ICW. Several of their fish weighed over 4 lbs.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there’s still a decent bite in the blue water, as several wahoo caught last week near the Mac Marlen Ledge attest. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures will fool the wahoo, and anglers should be able to find them in the Gulf Stream for much of the winter.
Inshore of the stream, there’s been plenty of bottom activity in 100-120′ of water. Divers have been spearing some fat red and gag groupers and hogfish in the area, along with seeing lots of large lobsters. Anglers bottom fishing the area should drop live baits for the best chances of hooking up with the larger grouper.
The king mackerel bite had been solid around Frying Pan Tower a week ago (with a 37 lb. king caught on a temperature break SW of the Tower), but some cool water moved in and shut things down. As soon as some warmer water (67+ degrees) returns to the area, the king bite should kick back on again. Live baits are tough to come by right now, but dead cigar minnows will produce action with the wintertime kings, too.
The giant bluefin tuna bite has begun off of Morehead City, and anglers are anxiously waiting to see if the fish make a good showing in this area this winter. If so, anglers will likely find the fish feeding on temperature breaks near the shoals. Trolling horse ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy JAG lures is the most productive way to hook up with one of these monstrous fish.
Will Monroe, from Raleigh, NC, with a red drum caught on a finger mullet in the ICW between Oak Island and Southport.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that late fall/winter fishing is just getting good. The speckled trout bite has been especially hot (with good numbers in the 5-7+ lb. range) around the Little River jetties, near Saint James, around Coquina Harbor, and in the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers. Live shrimp fished under slip-float rigs are far and away the best trout baits.
Anglers fishing shrimp at the jetties have been catching solid numbers of red drum, too (a lot of 16-18″ fish with some 27-30″ thrown in).
The trout bite generally stays good through January into February, so anglers have several months’ worth of good fishing to look forward to, and the reds often stick around right through the winter.
Sheepshead and black drum are also feeding heavily at the jetties right now, and they can be so numerous that it’s difficult to get a bait to the reds and specks.
Nearshore wrecks and ledges are still holding plenty of gray trout, and anglers can hook up with them while jigging Stingsilvers (or other metal lures) or on bottom rigs baited with cut baits.
J.T. and Allen Martin with a red drum released at Lockwood Folly after it fell for a jerkbait. They were fishing with Capt. Tommy Rickman of Southport Angler Outfitters.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the bluefin tuna bite is just getting good up north, and he’ll be in Morehead City chasing the giant tuna most of the winter.
Closer to home, the speckled trout bite has been excellent lately, and anglers are catching some nice specks at the Little River Jetties and docks and piers on the ICW. Live shrimp under float rigs are nearly irresistible to the trout.
As the water cools down over the coming months, the trout will move into deep water in Harbourgate and other local marinas. To catch the chilly specks, anglers will need to fish near the bottom in deep water (20-25+’). Working scented baits like Gulp deep and slowly is the best method to get them to bite.
