Ocean Isle August 22, 2013
Denise Dixon with a 67″, 71 lb. wahoo that bit a live menhaden under a King Buster skirt while she was fishing on her birthday with Capt. Chris Critz on the “Critter.” They were trolling 25 miles off Holden Beach.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has improved again along the beachfront, where anglers are hooking the fish while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures. The spaniards are also feeding out to spots in the 40-50’ range (with larger fish in the deeper water).
King mackerel action is still going at spots in 65’ of water and deeper, but it’s not as hot as it was in July. Boats are still landing good numbers of kings while trolling live menhaden and dead cigar minnows. Some large wahoo (60-80 lbs.) have been feeding at the typical king spots in 65-80’ of water, and they’re attacking live and dead baits that anglers are trolling for the kings.
Menhaden have become scarce along the beaches from Little River to Holden since last weekend’s north winds, but there have been some schools around Oak Island for anglers searching for bait.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has turned on at local spots along the break like the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole (with most fish 25-40 lbs.). The action’s been steady, and anglers can expect to see increasing numbers of the fish in the area as summer fades into fall.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the weather has shaken things up a bit in the area, but anglers are still connecting with some solid speckled trout and red drum inshore and in the inlets. Drifting live shrimp beneath float rigs is far and away the best method, but pinfish have overrun most of the spots where anglers are finding the reds and trout. The pinfish are quick to attack the shrimp, so bringing plenty of shrimp will ensure anglers have enough bait to get through the pins and to their target species. Inshore, fishing flooded grass edges at higher stages of the tide has been the best bet lately.
Drifting the shrimp along the rocks of the Little River jetty is tempting bites from the reds and trout feeding in the inlet.
Chris Harris, of Hamlet, NC, with a 36″ red drum he caught and released near Southport after it struck a live finger mullet.
Some larger reds (8-15+ lbs.) are looking for meals on the bottom at Little River. Drifting through the middle of the inlet with live mullet or menhaden on the bottom is producing results with the larger reds.
Some big spanish mackerel are also feeding around Little River and along the beachfront. When they’re chasing bait on top, anglers can cast suspending plugs or metal jigs into the action with success.
The flounder bite remains strong at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef, where anglers are hooking up with the flatfish on live menhaden and mullet.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are still connecting with red and black drum, speckled trout, and some flounder while fishing grass edges, oysters, docks, and other structure off the creeks and ICW. Live shrimp fished under floats are fooling all four.
Anglers are also picking up some reds, trout, and a few sheepshead while drifting live shrimp beneath floats along the rocks of Little River Inlet.
Some larger reds are feeding on the bottom in the inlet and biting live mullet and menhaden.
There’s still a solid flounder bite around nearshore structure in the ocean (like the Jim Caudle Reef). Live menhaden on Carolina rigs are tempting most of the flounder out in the ocean.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that some flounder are biting live mullet under the pier.
Anglers fishing live shrimp are connecting with some speckled trout in the early morning hours.
Bluefish and some spot are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
