Ocean Isle August 12, 2010
Capt. Kyle Hughes with a 7.6 lb. flounder he and Brandon Sauls landed while fishing an Ocean Isle dock aboard the "F/V Bonecrusher." A live finger mullet fooled the big flatfish.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there are still plenty of dolphin offshore of the area, but most are bailers. Cut baits, squid, and cigar minnows should tempt these smaller dolphin to bite, and anglers can often catch big numbers when they find a school.
Bottom fishing around 45 miles off the beaches in 95’ of water last week produced limits of beeliners and some solid grouper action. The beeliners will bite squid and cut baits, and anglers can hook the grouper on live pogies or other large baits.
Amberjacks are feeding in the same areas, and live baits will tempt bites from them.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there was a decent king mackerel bite (with fish to 20 lbs.) in 85’ of water last week, and dead cigar minnows tempted most of the king bites.
Pogies had been tough to find last week, but they’ve shown back up off the Oak Island beachfront for anglers seeking live baits.
Anglers picked up a few dolphin around the Horseshoe recently.
Some large spanish mackerel (3-5 lbs.) are feeding at spots off Ocean Isle in 50-65’, and anglers can hook them on small live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Smaller spanish are feeding in around 30’ of water, and they are susceptible to trolled Clarkspoons and other lures.
Plenty of grouper are feeding on the offshore ledges in the area, but recent strong currents have made fishing for them difficult.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there’s been hit-or-miss action with red drum (many 10+ lbs.) at the Little River jetties, with the bite hot one day and cold the next. Live pogies will fool the reds when they’re feeding.
The red drum bite inshore is still decent, with anglers picking away at the fish in the creeks and around ICW docks and bridges. Live finger mullet and shrimp are better bait choices inshore.
High flood tides lately are also producing some action with red drum in the marsh grass.
Flounder are feeding alongside the reds at the docks and bridges (with fish to 7+ lbs. landed lately), and a live finger mullet or shrimp is tough for them to pass up.
Anglers are also finding some flounder at nearshore structure in the ocean, where live baits will also get their attention.
Spadefish are feeding in the same areas, and anglers can fool them with jellyfish baits.
