Ocean Isle – April 9, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing water temperatures around 60 degrees on the beachfront and in the mid-60’s in the 20 mile range. It’s still a bit cool for the spring bite to truly kick off, but a few more degrees of warmth will kick a variety of fishing opportunities into gear for the season.
Steve Dishman, of Eden, NC, with a 19″ black drum that bit shrimp while he was fishing from Oak Island Pier.
Plenty of black sea bass are looking for meals around bottom structure in the 20 mile range, but they seem to be spreading out in the warming water and anglers are finding some keepers much closer to shore as well. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits or small vertical jigs will fool the bass whether anglers are nearshore or well off.
Rob Woodward, of Panama City, FL, with an over-slot red drum he caught and released near Oak Island after it struck a live bait. He was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Not many boats have been to the Gulf Stream lately, but a recent trip by a local angler to the Georgetown Hole produced a decent catch of dolphin, so anglers may well see an early push of the ‘phins this season. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures will fool the dolphin, along with wahoo, tuna, and any other blue water predators that anglers encounter along the break.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that water temperatures are creeping upward and the inshore fishing options are doing the same. The area’s red and black drum haven’t been feeding with abandon yet, but anglers are putting some in the boat and the bite should take off once the water warms a bit further. The most productive spots have been ICW docks for both drum recently, as the majority of the reds seem to have moved out of their shallow wintering holes. Anglers are hooking both fish on shrimp fished on the bottom along with crab chunks when they can get them. Live mud minnows, cut mullet, and a variety of artificials will also fool the reds.
Some red drum are still feeding in the local creeks where they’re schooled up in deeper pockets. Mud minnows or shrimp will also attract attention from the reds in the creeks.
Speckled trout are feeding in Coquina Harbor and the Ocean Isle and Holden Beach canals, but many are starting to move into more open water as well, and the Little River shell banks have been holding decent numbers in recent days. Shrimp-imitating soft plastics like Vudu and Billy Bay models are attracting attention from the trout.
Not many people have been fishing Little River Inlet lately, but there should be some slot and over-slot red drum looking for meals around the jetties. April and early May often produce some large speckled trout around the rocks as well. Live shrimp or mud minnows drifted under floats are the way to connect with both predators at the jetties.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing up-and-down fishing in the local backwaters recently, with some solid days mixed in with lackluster ones. Red and black drum are feeding in the local marshes and around structure like docks. Anglers can hook both fish on shrimp fished on Carolina rigs or under popping corks. Gulp baits and live mud minnows can also be effective on the reds.
Out in the ocean, there’s still some solid black sea bass action around bottom structure from a few miles offshore to the break. Anglers can tempt the bass to bite squid and cut baits on bottom rigs or a variety of 2-4 oz. vertical jigging lures.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a few sea mullet and big numbers of stingrays while bottom fishing from the planks. Shrimp are producing most of the action.
