Ocean Isle August 30, 2007
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that boats running to the Gulf Stream are landing some dolphin, wahoo, and sailfish. The wahoo are mostly in the 20-30 lb. class, and the dolphin range from bailers to gaffers. Skirted ballyhoo are the top producing baits on all of the Gulf Stream predators.
Bottom fishing remains good in the 90-110’ depths. Anglers can hook up with beeliners (vermillion snapper) and other bottomfish by baiting small hooks with squid. The larger red, scamp, and gag grouper are more likely to fall for live baits.
School kings are feeding well around the 65’ Hole. Pogies have been tough to come by in recent weeks, but plenty of the kings are falling for cigar minnows, so the fish don’t seem to mind.
Stan, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the flounder bite on the nearshore reefs has been excellent over the past week. Both the Caudle Reef (off Little River) and AR 460 (off Shallotte Inlet) have been producing good catches of the flatfish. Anglers caught flounder (up to 9 lbs.) off the reefs last week.
Fishing a finger mullet pinned to a Carolina rig is the best way to hook up with these ocean flounder.
Inshore, the flounder, speckled trout, and puppy drum are feeding beneath ICW docks and bridges. They’ll all fall for Carolina-rigged finger mullet, too, but the top trout producer is an electric chicken colored soft plastic bait on a white jighead.
Spanish mackerel are feeding on schools of finger mullet in Little River Inlet. Anglers should be able to locate the fish by looking for surface feeding activity.
Mary, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the bite is a bit slow due to the near-90 degree water temperatures. The hot water has the fish holding in shade of the pier throughout the midday hours.
Some flounder are falling for live shrimp. Anglers should fish the early morning hours for the best chances of hooking a few before it gets too hot.
