Ocean Isle – August 28, 2014
Bob Crandall, Jude Panetta (angler), Bryant Wales, and Capt. Phil Mosely with a 66″ wahoo they landed while trolling near the Blackjack Hole on the “Yellow Rose.” A blue/pink/white-skirted ballyhoo was too much for the ‘hoo to resist.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has finally gone off in a big way off Brunswick County’s beaches. Anglers saw fast action last week with the kings at spots in the 60-70’ range like the Jungle and the Shark Hole (and some big fish, many 25+ lbs.). Live baits are the best bets for anglers looking to connect with the big kings, and there have been plenty of menhaden schooling along the beachfront for anglers looking for baits. Jigging cigar minnows and other baits offshore with sabiki rigs can also be effective.
Spanish mackerel are also on the feed off the area’s coast, but the action’s been just off the shoreline. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is the best way to connect with the spaniards.
Offshore, there’s still some decent wahoo action in the blue water of the Gulf Stream, but anglers are reporting the best bite is up to the north of the area.
Bottom fishing around structure in 100’ and deeper is producing plenty of action with beeliners along with some big scamp grouper. Live baits are the best bet for the grouper, while cut baits and squid will tempt bites from the beeliners and other smaller bottomfish.
Caleb Williams and Marco Diaz with a 22″, 4 lb. flounder Caleb hooked off the Ft. Caswell Pier on a live finger mullet.
Kyle, of Speckulator Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with plenty of flounder throughout the area. The bite’s still going on the nearshore wrecks and AR’s despite the heavy fishing pressure they’re receiving at present.
Inshore, Tubbs Inlet continues to surrender good numbers of flatfish, and anglers are also hooking up while casting around ICW docks and flooded grass banks. Live finger mullet continue to be the top flatfish baits.
Slot-sized red drum are feeding around many of the same ICW spots as the flatfish, and anglers are also tempting them to bite live mullet. Larger reds (to 40”) are feeding in Little River Inlet, where anglers are hooking them on live finger mullet and menhaden drifted through the inlet. The action with the big reds should be getting better by the week, as the peak season for the “bull drum” at Little River is just around the corner.
Speckled trout action continues to be hit-or-miss in the area, but anglers are hooking a few while fishing float-rigged live shrimp around grass and shell banks near Little River and Calabash.
Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily just off the beaches, but they’re keyed in on very small baits. The smallest diamond jigs available and #00 Clarkspoons are doing the best job of “matching the hatch” with the spaniards at present.
Weston Russel, of Belville, NC, with a 24″ red drum that struck a Carolina-rigged finger mullet in the Cape Fear River.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that there’s been some excellent action with big spanish mackerel around the local AR’s and other structure within a few miles of the beachfront. The spaniards are falling for live finger mullet fished on light wire leaders, and anglers also released a sailfish in just 40’ of water while spanish fishing last week.
Dropping finger mullet to the bottom around the same structure is producing some impressive catches of flounder.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and black drum while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms. Flounder are feeding near the pilings and taking an interest in small live baits.
