Ocean Isle August 16, 2012
Frank Miller, JR., and Frank Miller, Sr., from WV, with a red drum and a flounder that bit live mehaden near Sunset Beach while they were fishing with Capt. Mark Stacy of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com.
Barrett, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the nearshore flounder bite is still one of the biggest things going right now. Anglers are connecting with limits of the flatfish at the AR’s and other structure off Ocean Isle, Sunset Beach, and Little River, with most falling for live finger mullet and menhaden.
Spanish mackerel are in many of the same areas and chasing bait closer to shore as well. They’ll take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
King mackerel continue to feed around large schools of cigar minnows at spots in the 65’ range, and anglers are hooking big numbers while trolling live menhaden and live and dead cigar minnows around the bait.
Bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action with black sea bass, beeliners, and other bottom dwellers around spots in 80-100’ of water, with grouper out a bit further. Squid and cut baits will tempt bites from the bass and beeliners, while live baits are a better choice for the grouper.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there’s still a solid scamp and gag grouper bite around Long Bay bottom structure in 100-120’ of water. Live baits are fooling the most and largest grouper. Some amberjacks and African pompano are in the same areas, and they will also take an interest in a live bait.
Brody Hughes and Alex Stone with a well over-slot red drum they caught and released from a dock in the Calabash River. Fresh shrimp on a bottom rig fooled the big red.
Black sea bass, beeliners, triggerfish, and other smaller bottom dwellers are in the same areas and will pounce on squid or cut baits.
Dolphin, king mackerel, and a few cobia are patrolling the same area looking for meals. Live and dead baits slow-trolled or light-lined while boats are bottom fishing will tempt bites from all three.
More kings are feeding into spots in around 65’ of water, and they will bite live menhaden or dead cigar minnows in those spots as well.
The flounder bite on the nearshore AR’s is still going strong, and anglers are hooking big numbers on live mullet and menhaden.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, where trolled Clarkspoons will attract plenty of attention from them.
Large sharks are also looking for meals within a few miles of shore, and they can be tempted to bite big cut baits.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are still hooking some red drum around hard structure in the ICW near Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach (with fish to 30”+). Live shrimp and finger mullet are both fooling the reds, with the shrimp seeming to have a slight edge lately.
Cody Ray Fields (age 7), of Bolivia, NC, with his first speckled trout, which struck a live finger mullet in Lockwood Folly Inlet while he was fishing with family.
Drifting float-rigged live shrimp along the rocks at the Little River jetties continues to produce some speckled trout and puppy drum action.
Red and black drum are feeding around oyster rocks in the creeks, particularly at lower tides, but high inshore water temperatures have the bite up-and-down. Live shrimp on light jigheads are the way to hook up with the fish in the creeks when they’re biting.
There’s also still a decent flounder bite in Tubbs Inlet, where live finger mullet seem to be outperforming other baits in recent days.
Flounder fishing at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef has been stellar recently (with limits of fish to 3-5 lbs.). Both finger mullet and peanut menhaden are tempting bites from the flatfish inshore.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with cut shrimp and bloodworms are hooking a mixed bag of spot, sea mullet, spadefish, black drum, and other bottom feeders.
