Ocean Isle August 15, 2013
Maxine Floyd, of Columbia, SC, with a pair of flounder that bit live finger mullet near Bald Head Island while she was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some consistent king mackerel action at spots off Ocean Isle in 65-80’ of water. A few cobia are in the area as well, and anglers also caught several wahoo inside 80’ last week. Live menhaden are fooling all the predators, and they also caught the attention of several sailfish recently. Anglers can also troll dead cigar minnows with success on the predators in that depth range.
The menhaden have been plentiful along the beachfront, and anglers are finally seeing an improving spanish mackerel bite along the beaches as well. Most of the spanish action’s been in 20-30’ of water lately, and trolled Clarkspoons are putting the fish in the boat.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream last week found a decent wahoo bite along with a few dolphin, with skirted ballyhoo fooling all the fish.
The wrecks in around 100’ of water off Ocean Isle are holding plenty of amberjacks and some African pompano. Both will pounce on menhaden or other live baits.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the nearshore flounder action in the area is still going strong when it’s calm enough for small boats to make it out to structure in the 2-5 mile range. Live baits like menhaden are tempting bites from the flatfish, and anglers shouldn’t be afraid to use larger-than-normal baits as they weed out some of the smaller fish feeding around the structure.
The flounder bite is still decent inside, but the fish seem to have moved out of the shallows and are feeding best around deeper structure like docks right now. Live finger mullet and menhaden will also fool the flatfish inshore.
The red drum bite remains solid in the backwaters around Little River, Calabash, and Sunset Beach. Anglers are hooking most of the reds on live shrimp fished under floats.
Some speckled trout, black drum, and sheepshead are mixed in with the reds and also biting live shrimp.
Drew Markham, of Holly Springs, NC, with a 27″ red drum that struck a live finger mullet near Holden Beach.
There’s also a good drum and trout bite around the Little River jetties, where live shrimp are also producing results.
Spanish mackerel are feeding in and just off Little River Inlet, and anglers who spot the fish feeding on the surface can cast plugs like Rapala X-Raps to the activity to hook up.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are hooking some larger (8-15 lb.) red drum in Little River Inlet while drifting with live finger mullet and menhaden. Rising tides are producing the best action.
Smaller reds and some speckled trout are feeding along the rocks in the inlet, and they will pounce on live shrimp drifted near the structure on float rigs. Some sheepshead and black drum are mixed in.
Flounder fishing remains solid around the Jim Caudle Reef and other nearshore structure off Little River and Shallotte inlets. Anglers can tempt the flatfish to bite live menhaden on Carolina rigs.
Speckled trout, flounder, and red and black drum are also feeding in the creeks and along the ICW around grass banks, oyster rocks, and docks. Live shrimp are tempting bites from all four fish.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that some spot, sea mullet, and spadefish are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Plug casters are hooking a few bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
