Ocean Isle July 16, 2009
Bob Laurie, of Grand Rapids, MI, with a 23 lb. dolphin he hooked on a live pogy at the Horseshoe. He was fishing with his father on the "RockinRobin."
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent over the past week in the 55-70’ depth range. Good numbers of sailfish and a few cobia are feeding in the same areas, and all will take an interest in live pogies.
There have been more pogies on the beach lately than most people have ever seen, but until lately, most have been smallish. Some larger pogies, however, finally made an appearance over the past week.
The dolphin bite is improving, but the fish have pushed offshore. Anglers found good numbers last week in 100-110’ around areas like the Navy Wreck. Trolling rigged ballyhoo under skirted lures will produce action with the ‘phins.
Closer to the beaches, anglers are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons. Larger spanish (3-6 lbs.) are feeding offshore amidst the kings.
Kenny Sheperd and Ruby, Virginia, and Jamie Fowler with speckled trout and flounder they hooked in the Cape Fear River on Carolina-rigged peanut pogies.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that speckled trout fishing has picked up over the past week, and anglers are finding action with the specks at the Little River jetties, around shell banks inshore, and in the backwater creeks. Float fishing with live shrimp is the best way to fool the specks.
The flounder bite is consistent in the usual places like Tubbs Inlet and the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly Rivers. Anglers are also starting to hook up with some flatties on the nearshore wrecks and reefs. The area’s finger mullet are finally large enough to use as flounder baits, and anglers are having much better luck with mullet than with other baits like pogies or mud minnows.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks and on backwater flats at flood tides, and live shrimp underneath a float are producing plenty of action with them. Some larger reds and a few flounder are feeding around the Little River jetties, and they’ll take an interest in pogies or mullet fished on Carolina and three-way swivel rigs.
Joe Ladd, from Concord, NC, with a 7.7 lb. spadefish that he hooked while surf fishing just west of Oak Island Pier. The fat spade fell for a chunk of deer meat.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that large pogies have finally shown up along the beaches.
Kings (12-30 lbs.) and big spanish mackerel (4-6 lbs.) are feeding around near and offshore structure, and the big pogies are perfect baits for them.
Inshore, fishing around the inlets with Carolina-rigged finger mullet is producing action with red drum and flounder.
Will, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with good numbers of speckled trout on live shrimp.
Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are producing action with whiting, and anglers baiting up with bloodworms are hooking some spot.
Some spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs.
