Ocean Isle August 11, 2011
Kamaron Owens, of Richmond, VA, with a 21" red drum that bit a live finger mullet while she was fishing with Ramsey Young and Seth Goodrich near Holden Beach.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there’s still a decent spanish mackerel bite just off the beaches, but it’s been better a little further offshore in around 40’ of water lately.
Some big sharks are feeding around the shoals off Bald Head, and fishing a large cut bait will produce fast action with the predators.
The king mackerel bite was decent in around 60’ last week, with a few dolphin mixed in. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will fool both the kings and ‘phins.
Bottom fishing in around 80-90’ of water was productive last week. Anglers landed a variety of tasty bottom dwellers including triggerfish, grunts, black sea bass, and more while targeting ledges and other structure in that range.
Further offshore, there was a good scamp grouper bite around structure in 120’, with cigar minnows doing the most damage.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the spanish mackerel are scattered along the beaches, and the menhaden schools are somewhat less prevalent than they were in recent weeks. When anglers find the spanish, trolling Clarkspoons behind planers will put them in the boat.
A bit of a king mackerel bite materialized last week, with the best action at spots in around 65’ of water (mostly snakes, but some fish to 20+ lbs.). Live bait was tough to come by, but the fish didn’t seem to mind and bit dead cigar minnows heartily.
A few dolphin have been feeding at spots in the 80’ range, and cigar minnows and ballyhoo are tempting them to bite.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the fishing has been up-and-down with the hot weather over the past week. On the better days, anglers are finding red drum feeding in the area creeks and tempting them to bite live shrimp and finger mullet on light jigheads.
Drifting through Little River Inlet with live shrimp on the bottom has been producing plenty of action with a variety of fish. Red and black drum, bonnethead sharks, black sea bass, flounder, gray trout, and more are falling for the shrimp in the inlet.
The flounder bite is still best at nearshore structure off Little River and Sunset Beach (and most of the ocean fish are fat keepers). Live finger mullet, shrimp, and mud minnows will all draw strikes from the flounder in the ocean.
Kathryn Travis with a 20" red drum that bit squid on a double bottom rig in the Oak Island surf.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have been picking up good numbers of flounder while fishing live finger mullet on the bottom under the pier.
A few pompano are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pier’s pilings. Sand fleas, barnacles, and other baits will tempt them to bite.
The water around the pier is finally cleaning up, and anglers have been rewarded with an improving spanish mackerel bite. Most of the spaniards are falling for Gotcha plugs.
