Ocean Isle April 1, 2010
Gary Mullis, of Monroe, NC, with a red drum that fell for a 6" pogy near Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that bottom fishermen are finding action with sea bass at bottom structure starting in 50’ of water. From 50-80’, there are big numbers of throwbacks and dogfish mixed in with the keepers. The ratio of legal fish improves once anglers go deeper, with some of the best fishing lately around structure in 90-110’. Another bonus of the offshore spots is that once anglers work their way to water over 60 degrees, the number of dogfish they’ll deal with is drastically reduced. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits and small jigging lures are both excellent producers on the bass.
Some flounder are feeding at the 50-80’ structure. Most are nice ones, so anglers may luck into a few fat flounder while chasing the bass.
Gulf Stream trolling has been rather hit-or-miss lately, with more misses than hits, likely due to the bad water at the local spots.
Anglers have been saving trips to the blue water by deep-jigging around structure on the break in 150-400’. Working metal jigs along the bottom and up through the water column is drawing plenty of attention from amberjacks, large (but out of season) grouper, various snappers (including a mutton snapper lately), and a variety of other species.
April 1st marks the opening of the recreational beeliner season, but with the cold water in the area, the beeliners have been holding out in 150’ and deeper lately.
Trace and Chance Hall, of Little River, SC, with a 6 lb. black drum they hooked at the Calabash Crossroads on a live shrimp.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the warmer weather has the inshore bite in the area on the upswing, and it should only get better over the next few weeks.
Speckled trout have turned on and are feeding much more actively inshore than they were a few weeks ago. Anglers have been connecting with the specks in the canals behind Ocean Isle and around Sunset Beach Bridge and St. James Marina, and other well-known springtime spots. Some live shrimp are beginning to turn up, but anglers are still catching most of the specks on 2-3” Gulp and Storm shrimp imitations.
The trout bite at the Little River jetties hasn’t turned on yet; however, the warmer weather ahead should get the fish feeding, and the spring jetty trout are often some of the largest of the year. Live shrimp are tough to beat when fishing for specks around the rocks.
Red drum in the area are also becoming more active with the rising water temperatures. There are still some fish in the creeks, but they’re beginning to thin out as the fish move to spots along the waterway like Sunset Beach Bridge. Live mud minnows and shrimp or chunks of blue crab have been fooling most of the reds lately.
The inshore water temperatures are hovering around 60 right now, which means it won’t be long until the flounder bite gets going as well.
Ian, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching some whiting and small sharks from the pier, and the whiting bite should improve over the next few weeks as the water temperature climbs.
