Ocean Isle June 4, 2009

Mike Haggie, of Little River, SC, with a pair of fat black sea bass he hooked while bottom fishing offshore of Holden Beach with Capt. Keith Logan of Stand 'N Down Charters.

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that blue water trollers are finding excellent gaffer dolphin fishing right now around the Blackjack Hole and 100/400. There have also been a few more wahoo mixed in lately than there were a few weeks ago. Boats reported several blue marlin hookups in the same areas last week, too. Skirted ballyhoo are the best baits for all the Gulf Stream predators.

Some dolphin have also pushed inshore of the stream, and they’re taking an interest in cigar minnows and other baits that anglers are pulling for kings at spots in the 80′ range.

The king bite has been solid in the 100′ depths lately, and more recently anglers found a good bite in 60-80′ at areas like the 90/90. Most of the fish are schoolies, and trolling live baits like pogies or dead cigar minnows should attract their attention.

Bottom fishermen are hooking plenty of grunts, snappers, and other bottomfish (along with a few scamp grouper) at bottom structure in 100-110′.

Inshore, the spanish mackerel bite is still on along the beachfront. Trolled Clarkspoons will take care of business on the spanish.

Tracy Pekkala and Henry Hare, of High Point, NC, and Capt. Chuck Truby, of Oak Island, with a catch of dolphin, a wahoo, and a blackfin tuna they hooked while trolling at the Steeples on the "Knot Reel." The fish fell for ballyhoo under Ilanders and sea witches along with a Green Machine.

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the speckled trout bite has turned on strong over the past week. The best action has been around the Little River jetties, where anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp fished under floats. Some big red drum (30-35″) and fat sheepshead are also feeding at the jetties, and they’re also falling for the float-rigged shrimp.

Local flounder fishing continues to improve (with fish to 8 lbs. caught this past week), and anglers are hooking up with the flatties in Tubbs Inlet, Shallotte Inlet, and the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers. Carolina-rigged live baits are tops for the flatties, and finger mullet and peanut pogies seem to be producing larger fish than mud minnows.

Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches, but the bite’s a little slower than it was last week.

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the Gulf Stream dolphin bite remains hot, with the majority of the fish gaffers. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Mini Jags in green, blue, and pink hues are producing particularly good results. A few wahoo have been mixed in with the dolphin, but no tunas.

The spanish mackerel bite on the beach is still going strong, and anglers should have little trouble finding the fish by trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.

Inshore, the flounder are finally getting bigger and have taken up residence in their usual summer haunts. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies will attract attention from the flatfish.

Caleb, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen had a good week, picking up a mixed bag of spadefish, pompano, black drum, whiting, and sharks.

Anglers fishing with live mud minnows picked up a few flounder last week.

Plug casters are finding action with bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.

by Fish Post