Added on Thursday, June 19, 2008  Gary Hurley

Ocean Isle June 19, 2008

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that Gulf Stream trolling is still producing some dolphin (many in the 20-30 lb. range). The larger fish seem to be feeding in the deeper water, and rigged ballyhoo underneath skirted trolling lures should attract their attention.

Boats are still hooking up with some blue marlin in the area, and the best odds of a blue sighting are going to be offshore of the break in 300′ or deeper.

Bottom fishing has been productive around ledges and other structure in 110-125′, with anglers landing some big red grouper (good numbers of 20+ lb. citation fish). Cut Boston mackerel has been one of the best baits lately.

Some king mackerel are still feeding around offshore structure and bait in 110-150′.There have also been good numbers of kings and a few dolphin in the 70′ deep areas, and last week Brant found particularly good fishing around a huge school of cigar minnows in 70′, landing fish from 8-20+ lbs. The cigars were moving inshore, meaning that traditional spots in 55-65′ of water,–the Shark Hole, the Jungle, and the 65′ Hole-should be holding some fish for this weekend’s Jolly Mon tournament.

Pogies have finally shown up along the beach this week, with anglers catching them relatively easily right on the beach at Ocean Isle, Holden, and Oak Island. A group of kings is also feeding inshore around the pogies and spanish mackerel along the beaches.

The Yaupon Reef has been hosting a good bite of teenager-class kings with some in the 20’s and a few over 30 lbs. mixed in.

 

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that speckled trout fishing remains good around the Sunset Beach Bridge and the Little River jetties. Live shrimp fished on float rigs are the best trout baits, and anglers should be able to catch some shrimp with a cast net off the ICW around lower tides.

Flounder fishing continues to improve (anglers are now landing good numbers of 3+ lb. fish), with anglers putting together good catches of the flatfish in Tubbs and Shallotte Inlets and the Ocean Isle canals. Carolina-rigged mud minnows will attract attention from the flounder, and the finger mullet are getting large enough to use as flounder baits as well.

Red drum have been a little scarce lately, but there are still some feeding around the Ocean Isle docks, the Sunset Beach Bridge, and the jetties.

 

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent along the beaches and at structure not far offshore. There have been plenty of fish caught around the Yaupon Reef (some up in the high 20’s), and a bit further out, the 90/90 has been producing some nice fish as well.

Nearshore structure like the Caudle Reef and the General Sherman are holding schools of spadefish. Anglers can target the spades by chumming with jelly balls, then using small pieces of the jellies as hook baits.

There are plenty of pogies showing up along Holden Beach and near Shallotte Inlet.

Flounder are still feeding well around the inlets and bridges. Mud minnows and tiger-side minnows will appeal to the flounder.

 

Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been good in the mornings, when anglers are landing good numbers on Gotcha plugs. Some bluefish are also mixed in.

Anglers fishing live shrimp and other baits from the pier are hooking up with speckled trout and some flounder in the mornings.

Bottom fishermen are landing some whiting on shrimp.

The water is 78 degrees.