Ocean Isle April 10, 2014
Maddi (age 10) and Lauren (age 7) Snyder, of Woddburn, IN, and their grandfather Joe Zurad with a slot red drum that bit a chunk of crab in the ICW near Sunset Beach.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers who made the run to the Gulf Stream last week found some decent wahoo action, mostly from the Steeples to the Winyah Scarp. The best bite last week was in blended water in the 68-72 degree range. Some blackfin tuna are around as well, and anglers are hooking them on both conventional ballyhoo rigs and artificial tolling lures.
The edge of the Gulf Stream is pushing in along the break, and it shouldn’t be long before local anglers see the first dolphin of the year arriving.
Warmer water has also made its way to nearshore areas, and the black sea bass action is improving at local spots in the 65’ depth range. Anglers are hooking big numbers of the bass (with a good ratio of keeper/short fish) while dropping multi-hook bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits around those areas and deeper.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing water temperatures climbing rapidly in the area, a good sign for the fishing action to come this spring. It’s been a bit tough, however, to find reliable action as the inshore predators seem to be on the move from their winter to spring haunts and aren’t feeding consistently in either yet.
Alex (age 8), Mark, and Cameron (age 9) Wood, from Raleigh, with some slot red drum they hooked on live mud minnows while fishing the Shallotte River with Capt. Jacob Frick of J&J Inshore Charters.
There are still some red drum looking for meals in the backs of area creeks, but they aren’t as numerous as a few weeks back. The reds are also starting to show up around docks and other structure in the ICW, and anglers should be able to find some resident fish around the Little River jetties as well.
The area’s crabs are just beginning to molt for the spring, so the best bet for the reds and black drum hanging around much of the same structure will be chunks of crab in the upcoming weeks.
Speckled trout are still holding in many of their winter spots like the Ocean Isle canals, Shallotte River, and Calabash Creek, but they’ll soon be on the move as well. When the water temperatures hit the consistent 60’s, anglers should have some of their best shots of the year at big trout around the jetties. Live shrimp drifted under floats are tough to beat for the jetty trout, but a variety of artificials will tempt bites as well.
Anglers also saw their first handful of flounder for spring last weekend, and the flatfish action should become more consistent in typical early season spots like Cherry Grove and Tubbs Inlet in the next few weeks. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits will both attract attention from the flounder.
