Ocean Isle – August 21, 2014
Mark Gibeault, of Ocean Isle Beach, with a 25″ red drum he hooked on a live mud minnow in the ICW at the east end of the island.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the past week of stable weather allowed the water to clean up and it greatly improved the inshore fishing in the area.
Flounder fishing has been solid both in and offshore in the area. Anglers are hooking good numbers of the flatfish around nearshore structure like the AR’s (with most solid 2-3 lb. fish and some to 5+ lbs. in the mix). Anglers are also hooking good numbers of flounder in Tubbs Inlet and around docks and flooded grass edges along the ICW.
Red drum are also feeding around docks and grass banks, and anglers have been hooking both the flatfish and good numbers of the reds on Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Speckled trout are still a bit scattered inshore, but anglers are hooking some while drifting live shrimp beneath floats around grass and shell banks.
Carol McGinnis with a 24″ red drum that struck a spinnerbait in the Shalotte River.
Spanish mackerel are schooled up and feeding on glass minnows around the inlets and along the beachfront. Due to the tiny baits they’ve been eating, the spaniards haven’t been biting Gotcha plugs well, but casters are hooking up on small diamond jigs and other little, flashy lures. Trolling #00 Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is always effective as well.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers have seen spanish mackerel show back up along the Bruswick County beaches, where they’re feeding on glass minnows between the shoreline and 50’ depths.
Plenty of menhaden are also schooling along the beachfront, with big numbers of large sharks feeding on them. A few large (30+ lbs.) king mackerel have also been chasing the bait. A live menhaden is tough for either of the predators to turn down.
Dolphin are still scattered from the 80’ depths to the break, and they’re biting both live and dead baits. The wahoo bite on the break is starting to show some signs of life with fall on the horizon, and anglers can expect the blue water action to improve further once the temperatures begin to fall a bit.
Caroline and Brayden McMullan with a 25 lb. king mackerel that struck a live bait on the downrigger while they were fishing with their dad on the “Team OIFC” out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Bottom fishermen are reporting some excellent beeliner fishing around bottom structure in 110’ of water and deeper.
Rob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers fishing live baits beneath the pier are connecting with flounder (some in the 20” range).
