Ocean Isle April 15, 2010
Cory Logsdon with a mess of whiting he hooked from Ocean Crest Pier on shrimp.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream bite in the area has been a little off, as the warm water has been way offshore lately. One boat did bring home three wahoo from a trip to the Steeples last week. The fish bit in 68 degree water, so anglers may be able to find some action in the cooler water at the Steeples and spots like the Blackjack Hole and Winyah Scarp. Trolling ballyhoo beneath skirted lures or faster trolling with baitless lures like Black Barts will attract attention from the wahoo when anglers locate them.
Sea bass fishing has improved markedly at spots in 40-50’ of water within 15 miles of the beaches. The water has warmed enough that the pesky spiny dogfish have moved on, meaning it’s much easier to land the tasty bass, which will take an interest in bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits.
Atlantic bonito haven’t made an appearance off the area yet, but the water temperatures are almost perfect (61 degrees in the 10 mile range last week), so it shouldn’t be long until they show up.
Noah York and his uncle Jonathan Burrell with a red drum that fell for a piece of cut mullet off Noah's grandmother's dock in Oak Island.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers found some excellent puppy drum fishing last week inshore of Ocean Isle. The fish have been feeding in the creeks and around ICW docks, and anglers are hooking them on live mud minnows and pieces of crab pinned to Carolina rigs.
The flounder bite is turning on, too, and anglers are picking up a few fish while drum fishing. Greater numbers of the flatties are coming from Tubbs and Cherry Grove inlets. Around half the fish seem to be keepers, which is a pretty good ratio for this time of year. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits will both fool the flatties.
Speckled trout fishing has also improved, with many anglers reporting double-digit days, especially to the east around Southport. Most of the fish aren’t terribly big, but a 4.5 lb. speck was weighed in this past week. Most of the specks are falling for soft plastic shrimp imitations and swimbaits.
The big trout bite on the Little River jetties typically kicks off around the second or third week in April, so anglers can expect it to happen any day now. Drifting live shrimp along the rocks in late April and early May is how local anglers connect with some of the largest specks of the year.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite has finally turned on, but the fish are still well offshore. The best action last week was in around 120’, but the fish should be moving towards the beaches as the water warms. Trolling frozen cigar minnows has been producing plenty of bites from the kings when anglers can find the fish.
Black sea bass fishing has been excellent lately at bottom structure in around 80’ of water. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits will attract plenty of attention from the bass.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have seen some decent runs of whiting over the past week, but the action slowed with last weekend’s cool snap. A bit of warmer weather should have the fish feeding well again. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp are the way to go for the whiting.
The pier also saw its first bluefish of the year last week, and it won’t be long until the blues arrive in full force.
