Ocean Isle June 3, 2010
Nick Sizemore, from Greensboro, NC, with a 30 lb. African pompano that fell for a 2 oz. Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig at some bottom structure in 120' off Holden Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Keith Logan of Feedin' Frenzy Charters out of Old Ferry Seafood in Holden Beach.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent amberjack and scamp grouper bite at structure in around 100’ of water lately. A few gags are mixed in with the scamps, and all the fish are falling for live baits.
Some dolphin (to 10+ lbs.) have moved as far inshore as the Horseshoe, where they’re mixed in with king mackerel. Both fish are falling for live and dead baits.
There’s also still a decent king bite along the beaches and out to nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef. Live pogies are the ticket for the inshore kings.
Some bluefish and spanish are also feeding along the beaches, and anglers can tempt them to bite trolled Clarkspoons.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that traveling way offshore of the area (95 miles) produced an excellent dolphin catch last week (with bulls to 38 lbs.).
Dolphin are scattered inshore from that area to the break and traditional king mackerel spots in the 60’ depth range. Rigged ballyhoo, dead cigar minnows, and live baits will all fool the dolphin.
The king bite has been on from the beaches and nearshore structure to spots in the 50-65’ range, with smaller fish but greater numbers showing up further offshore. Live pogies are the top baits for the kings, but they’ve been a bit more difficult to come by over the last week, with the best reports coming from between the river mouth and Ocean Crest Pier.
Some cobia are in the mix everywhere the kings are, so anglers should keep an eye out for a brown shadow approaching the boat and have something ready to cast at it.
There are plenty of spanish mackerel feeding along the beaches, and boats are hooking big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons along the inlet tidelines.
Bryan Wilson and pier operator Dave Cooper with a 39 lb., 7 oz. king mackerel that fell for a live bait fished from the end of Ocean Crest Pier.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still finding some action with speckled trout at spots around the Little River jetties and inshore around structure and in the deeper creeks. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, and anglers are seeing more and larger shrimp in the area by the week.
The flounder bite is still on in the inlets like Tubbs and Cherry Grove, in the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers, and at a variety of spots in between. Both live mud minnows and pogies will attract attention from the flatfish, but pogies seem to be producing the larger fish.
Red drum are feeding around predictable summer spots like ICW docks and the deeper creeks, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits or a variety of lures.
Josh, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that plug casters are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting, pompano, and a few flounder on shrimp.
