Ocean Isle July 2, 2009
David Willis, from Fort Belvoir, WA, and Richard Jenkins, Jr., from Raleigh, with a bull dolphin and a big king mackerel that fell for cigar minnows behind South Chatham Tackle Pirate Plugs near the Horseshoe while they were fishing with Capt. Keith Logan of Stand'N Down Charters out of Holden Beach.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream is slowing down a bit, but there’s still some action to be had out in the blue water. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures is producing bites from dolphin (mostly gaffers), a few wahoo, and a few blackfin tunas.
The king mackerel and inshore dolphin bite is still on at structure in around 65’ like the Jungle and Shark Hole. Live pogies and dead cigar minnows are both producing bites from the kings and ‘phins. The kings also seem to be getting bigger, as anglers weighed in good numbers in the 20-30 lb. range last week.
The king bite in the 50’ areas slowed down considerably last week, so it’s worth making the longer run to the slightly deeper spots.
Bottom fishermen found action with gag and scamp grouper, snappers, and other assorted bottom feeders in 85-110’ last week. Most anglers are catching the smaller fish on squid and cut baits and the larger groupers on live baits.
There are still good numbers of spanish mackerel feeding along the beaches, and trolled Clarkspoons will put the smaller mackerel in the box.
David Koehler, from Raleigh, with an over-slot red drum he hooked on a live pogy. He was fishing a wreck off Bald Head Island with Capt. Jeff Williamson of Get Busy Charters out of Ocean Isle.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still finding a good speckled trout bite around the Little River jetties and inshore, where anglers found some stout trout (5-7 lbs.) last week in the creeks. Most of the specks are taking an interest in live shrimp.
Slot-sized red drum are in the mix in creeks from Calabash to Little River as well.
Larger red drum (to the upper-30” range) are feeding around the Little River jetties, where anglers hooked them on Carolina-rigged live finger mullet last week while flounder fishing.
The flounder bite’s been consistent as well, both in Little River and Tubbs Inlets, and in the Shallotte River, where anglers seem to be catching some larger fish. There are also some flatties holding in the creeks where anglers are catching reds and trout. Carolina-rigged finger mullet, peanut pogies, or mud minnows will all get attention from the flatties.
Spadefish have shown up on the nearshore reefs and wrecks, and anglers caught good numbers last week on small pieces of cannonball jellies.
The water’s still nice and clean in the area, so the spanish mackerel bite should still be on in force for anglers trolling Clarkspoons or casting to breaking schools of fish.
Mark Craver with a 3 lb. 2 oz. flounder caught while fishing from Ocean Crest Pier.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching king mackerel from the beaches out to structure in 80’ or so. Live pogies are definitely the way to go for the kings right now.
Spanish mackerel are also falling for live pogies along the beaches. Anglers can find schools of bait working along the beachfront, and then drift live baits around the schools to hook up with the big spanish and kings.
The cannonball jellies that spadefish like to eat have shown up, so the spade bite should be on shortly at nearshore structure like the General Sherman.
Inshore, there’s been good flounder fishing around the ICW bridges and the inlets lately, and live baits like finger mullet on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that there’ve been some good spot runs over the past week, and anglers fishing with bloodworms are finding the most action.
Speckled trout fishing has also been good. The specks are showing a definite preference for live shrimp.
The flounder bite is improving, and anglers caught good number of flounder (many 16-20”) last week.
