Ocean Isle August 17, 2006
Brant, at Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been hot in the area. If you fish anywhere from the sea buoy out to 50 foot of water there is school after school of spanish eating glass minnows. Trolling clark spoons have been the most productive, but putting out a Yo-zuri crystal minnow has caught bigger fish.
The large schools of spanish are attracting the big kings, with several kings over 20 pounds caught this week by trolling around the pods. The same tactic is being used on the beach with the big schools of menhaden that are along the coast.
Smaller kings in bigger numbers are in the 85 to 105 foot areas (as well as all the barracudas you can stand).
Gag grouper continue to slowly move inshore, and they are now in the 75 to 110 foot range.
Gulf stream reports have been all about the wahoo this week, with occasional catches of dolphin.
Stan, at Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder are biting better on the nearshore reefs now, with fish averaging around 3 pounds and weighing up to 10 pounds. Use big, live baits and concentrate in 35 to 45 foot of water.
Redfish are biting fairly well around docks in the waterway. Most of the fish are slot-size and hitting live mullet or pogies.
Spanish mackerel are still strong off the beach hitting clark spoons. All of the recent spanish have been keeper size.
Will, at Ocean Isle Pier, reports spadefish up to 2 pounds and big whiting up to 1.5 pounds. They’re both biting the best on shrimp.
Trout in the 2 to 3 pound range are hitting live shrimp.
The live shrimp are also getting attention from flounder weighing up to 3 to 4 pounds.
The water temperature at the pier is 85 degrees.
