Ocean Isle March 13, 2008
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that Gulf Stream boats are enjoying success on wahoo and blackfin tuna. The Steeples have been a hot area lately, but boats have hooked wahoo at a variety of local blue water spots. Ballyhoo under dark colored skirted lures should prove tempting to the wahoo, and cedar plugs are top choices for the blackfins and other smaller tuna.
It won’t be long before yellowfins make an appearance off the area, as boats are already hooking some off Morehead. If it follows a typical spring pattern, anglers should see the Gulf Stream swing in a bit closer to shore over the next few weeks, bringing warm water over the break and making the blue water bite even better.
King mackerel fishing should get better over the coming weeks, and anglers seeking the kings would do well to look for a 68-70 degree temperature break southwest of Frying Pan Tower. Cigar minnows, either live or dead, should attract strikes from these hungry early-spring mackerel.
Anglers looking for some action closer to shore can hunt for false albacore around 55-60 degree temperature breaks by searching for fish actively feeding on the surface or around bait marks. The albacore will readily bite flies, and spin fishermen can hook up while casting a variety of metal jigging lures.
Bluefin tuna may well be around the same areas the albacore are feeding, as both species prefer similar water conditions.
Nearshore structure is holding plenty of sea bass, but anglers will need to weed through a lot of undersized fish in order to find bass over the new 12″ minimum size limit.
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Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the creeks and backwaters around Southport are holding decent numbers of speckled trout (up to 2.5 lbs.). Typical trout lures, like Mirrolures and Billy Bay Halo shrimp, should draw strikes from the specks.
A few trout are also feeding throughout the Ocean Isle area creeks and canals, and fishing here should only improve as the water temperatures rise and the specks enter a springtime feeding pattern.
Red drum are feeding in the shallows behind Sunset Beach, and anglers may have to hop out of the boat and wade in order to get close enough to the reds to hook up by sight casting. Gulp baits with little to no weight are ideal for these skinny water reds.
The water is currently around 58 degrees, and as it rises into the 60’s, trout and drum fishing will improve. Anglers may also be able to find the first few flounder of the year. Shallow creek and flats with dark mud bottoms will warm up faster than deeper waters, and these will be the areas to look for the early season flatfish.
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David, of Captain Hook Outdoors, reports that Gulf Stream fishing is turning on right now, and it will get even better as spring progresses. Yellowfin tuna and wahoo are the main quarry out in the blue water, and boats making the run to the stream should see good numbers of both.
Ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted lures and swimming plugs will attract attention from both the tuna and the ‘hoos.
King mackerel are currently holding about 45 miles offshore around temperature breaks and areas like the Houston wreck. As warmer water moves closer to shore over the next month, boats can start looking for the kings to move a bit closer in, to the Horseshoe and similar spots. These early kings will attack live or dead cigar minnows with relish, and trolled Drone spoons will also draw bites.
Bottom fishing is best on live bottoms in 100-140′ of water right now, where anglers are hooking up with red and a few gag grouper. Fishing for the gags and scamp grouper should improve over the coming months. The grouper will fall for a variety of baits, but Boston mackerel and cigar minnows are two of the best.
