Ocean Isle – August 27, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the water has cleaned up significantly along Brunswick County’s shorelines, and anglers are seeing plenty of spanish mackerel feeding just off the beachfront this week. The fish are biting Clarkspoons that oaters are trolling behind planers and inline sinkers (but quite a few undersized fish are mixed in with the keepers).
The king mackerel bite has turned on at local spots in the 65’ depths (but again, with small fish mixed in with keepers to 30+ lbs.). Anglers can tempt the kings to bite live baits like menhaden or dead cigar minnows trolled a bit faster.
Bottom fishermen are finding some excellent vermillion snapper action around bottom structure in 80’ of water and deeper. The “beeliners” and other bottomfish in the same areas will bite squid and cut baits fished on smaller hooks than anglers typically use for grouper.
Gulf Stream trollers are seeing a very strong wahoo bite at local spots along the break, with the Winyah Scarp hosting some of the best action recently. Ballyhoo paired with dark-colored lures are fooling the majority of the wahoo (which are averaging 25-40 lbs.).
Calvin Freeman, of Durham, NC, with a well over-slot red drum that bit a finger mullet near Tubbs Inlet while he was fishing with Joe Zurad on the “Zbreeze.”
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that there’s been some excellent grouper fishing around bottom structure in 100’ of water and deeper right now. Both scamp and gag grouper are looking for meals in that range, and anglers are hooking them on live baits like menhaden and pinfish. Vertical jigs like Blue Water Candy’s Roscoe can also be effective.
Calvin Freeman, of Durham, NC, with a well over-slot red drum that bit a finger mullet near Tubbs Inlet while he was fishing with Joe Zurad on the “Zbreeze.”
Plenty of smaller bottomfish like snapper, grunts, sea bass, and triggerfish are feeding in the same areas and biting squid and cut baits.
Holden Carroll with a 48 lb. wahoo he landed while trolling the Winyah Scarp aboard the “Pharmasea.”
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder bite is improving on the area’s nearshore reefs, with anglers seeing more keeper fish feeding around the ocean structure. Live finger mullet and menhaden are fooling the flatfish on the reefs.
The flounder bite is also still going in Tubbs Inlet and at spots along the ICW like docks and canals. The inshore fish are also taking an interest in live finger mullet.
Erickson Webb (age 6), of Winnabow, NC, with his first speckled trout, hooked on a live finger mullet while he was fishing inshore at Sunset Beach with his father.
The speckled trout bite has been rather good for August (though plenty of small fish are in the mix). Anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp fished under floats, and most of the action has been around grass and shell banks that receive some current flow.
Black drum are still feeding around some area docks and spots like Tilghman’s Wall near Little River Inlet. Live and cut shrimp are tough for the drum to turn down.
The red drum bite around docks has been slower recently, but anglers are hooking some fish around oyster rocks and potholes in the area’s marsh creeks. Live and cut finger mullet, menhaden, and shrimp will all get attention from the reds.
Edwin Newell with a 35 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo under a blue/white Iland Lure while he was trolling around the Winyah Scarp with Bob Newell on the “Retriever.”
Marshall, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some keeper flounder while fishing live baits on the bottom.
Some sea mullet and a few spot are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Anglers are also hooking some bluefish on bottom rigs and while working lures like Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Crystal Babson with a snowy grouper that she hooked on squid while fishing in 700′ of water 85 miles off Ocean Isle Beach with Daniel Simmons on the “Reel McCoy.”
