Holden Beach/Ocean Isle June 16, 2005
Brant McMullan, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that king bite is very good. The main places include the 390/390, the Jungle, and the General Sherman wreck. They’re still small, with most in the 6 to 10 lb. range. There have been lots of schools of cigar minnows and threadfin herring moving into the area. Typically these baitfish precede the bigger kings by about 1 to 2 weeks. Look in 50 to 65 feet of water.
Lots of cobia were caught and spotted in the Georgetown area over the weekend, and they will be moving north. Look for the cobia bite to be strong for a few more weeks.
Dolphin are now as close as 20 miles, and they will continue to move closer.
The spanish bite in the area is as good as Brant has seen in about 5 years. There are tons of them, most in the 16 to 20 inch range. Troll #1 planers just outside the inlets.
Amberjack are showing up on the nearshore wrecks. As for billfish, Mike and John Spivey on the “daddy R” released an estimated 400 lb. blue marlin at the Blackjack.
Rod and Reel Shop of Holden Beach, reports a little bit of everything is biting. In the waterway and rivers there are flounder, croaker, drum, and speckled trout. The surf fishing has been okay with pompano, whiting, bluefish, red drum, and black drum. Nearshore the kings and spanish are still biting well but the black sea bass are beginning to scatter out. Spadefish should be showing but not many reports yet. Dolphin are creeping nearshore but the bigger fish are still along the gulf stream break as well as wahoo and an occasional tuna.
