Ocean Isle August 14, 2008
Dylan Matthews (age 7) with his first king mackerel. It was caught on a live pogy while fishing near Frying Pan Tower.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has been solid all week around the 390/390. There’s been plenty of action with the kings, but most have been smaller fish (5-15 lbs.), although several in the 30’s were caught late last week. Live baits are top choices for the kings, and there have been plenty of pogies schooling along the beaches. Some clean water has pushed onto the beach, too, so there might well be some large kings around.
There have been some large spanish mackerel (up to 5 lbs.) mixed in with the kings, and the main body of spanish seems to have pushed out to 50-65′ of water. Anglers trolling Clarkspoons are hooking up with good numbers of the spaniards, and the fish in the deeper water seem to be running a bit larger than the average beach spanish (2-3 lbs.).
Boats are encountering a few dolphin while trolling spots in around 80′ of water.
Bottom fishing has been solid lately, with boats hooking some nice scamp grouper in around 100′. Live pogies have been responsible for most of the scamps.
Large beeliners are feeding slightly closer to shore in 85-90′. Squid does an excellent job of fooling the beeliners.
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Chip Berry, Harrison Grady, Jim Grady, and Tom Primm with a 45 lb. wahoo they hooked while trolling near the Same 'Ol Hole. They were fishing aboard the "Coastal Plane" out of Carolina Beach.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing is still strong in Tubbs and Shallotte Inlets (an 8 lb. fish came from Shallotte this week). Live finger mullet or pogies on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties.
Anglers are hooking up with good numbers of red drum and speckled trout around the Little River jetties. Live shrimp and pogies fished beneath floats are attracting attention from both species.
There have been plenty of spanish mackerel feeding in the inlets and along the beaches. Live baits will get their attention, and anglers can also cast X-Raps and other lures to fish feeding on the surface.
Spadefish are schooled up on the nearshore reefs, and anglers can hook them on pieces of cut jelly ball.
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David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that there have been plenty of school-sized king mackerel along with some large spanish (up to 5+ lbs.) feeding at spots within 10 miles of shore, with particularly good action at the 390/390. A few sailfish are mixed in with the mackerel, adding the potential for some billfish action to a king trolling trip.
Dead cigar minnows have been producing plenty of action with the mackerel, and live pogies or other baits will work as well.
Some smaller spanish mackerel are schooled up 3-4 miles offshore, where trolled Clarkspoons are producing plenty of bites.
Spadefish are holding on nearshore structure like the General Sherman and AR-460 and AR-445. Strips of jelly ball will fool the spades into striking.
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Hannah, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.
Live baits fished on the bottom are producing action with flounder.
A few croaker and spot are falling for cut shrimp.
