Ocean Isle August 27, 2009
Todd Helf with a 6 lb., 9 oz. vermillion snapper (1 oz. off the SC state record and possibly a pending NC state record) he hooked on a cut bait while fishing in 165' of water out of Ocean Isle.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the large swells from Hurricane Bill that came through over the weekend dirtied the water and slowed down the bite; however, offshore fishing was pretty solid before the storm, and it should rebound quickly once the water clears.
Anglers live-baiting near the Horseshoe last week found solid action with dolphin and king mackerel.
Kings and dolphin were also feeding around the Atlantic Ledge, and live-baiters trolling the deeper structure also found action with sailfish and a few cobia.
Incredibly strong currents lately have made bottom fishing and Gulf Stream trolling challenging.
There hasn’t been much of a king mackerel bite inside of 60’ of water over the past week, so anglers looking for the fish would do well to start out at deeper spots instead of fishing nearshore.
Along the beaches last week before the Bill swell, anglers found very clear water, tons of pogies, and big numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel harassing the pogy schools.
Anglers trolling spoons nearshore hooked big numbers of the spanish (many larger 20-24” fish).
Kim Akers, of Oak Island, caught these 3.5 and 2 lb. flounder on live shrimp from Oak Island Pier.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the red drum bite was excellent in the area last week. Anglers found the reds feeding at spots in the backwaters on the higher tides, and they hooked some larger (27-30”) fish around the Little River jetties. Live finger mullet and pogies on Carolina rigs are fooling the reds.
There was a decent speckled trout bite near Little River last week as well, with anglers finding fast action with the fish along the shell and grass banks leading to the inlet. Live shrimp under floats are the best way to fool the specks.
Flounder fishing, both inshore and off, improved last week as well, with anglers finding excellent flatfish action in Little River and Shallotte Inlets and in the Shallotte River (with fish to 5 lbs.). Those trying the nearshore wrecks and reefs also hooked good numbers of flounder. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs seem to be producing the most action on the flatfish.
Spadefish are schooled up on the General Sherman, the Jim Caudle, and the 3 Mile Boxcars off Shallotte Inlet, as well as virtually any other nearshore structure in the area.
Chumming with cannonball jellies and using pieces of the jelly balls as hook baits is the way to hook up with the spades.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel bite has slowed down a bit, but spanish mackerel have been pouncing on trolled Clarkspoons just off the beaches lately.
Anglers are catching good numbers of spadefish at the nearshore wrecks while fishing with pieces of jelly ball and using the jellies to chum the fish to the boat.
The flounder bite has been good both inshore and at the nearshore structure lately. Live finger mullet or pogies on Carolina rigs are the tickets to bites from the flatties.
Dustin, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have been picking up a few flounder on live mud minnows recently.
Some whiting are falling for shrimp fished on the bottom.
