Ocean Isle – August 31, 2017
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that redfish have been staging near inshore structure. Most fish have been landed during the higher part of the tide, and the majority of the fish have been mid-slot.
Those looking for black drum have done best in the creeks and waterway near oyster structure. Fresh shrimp fished on the bottom has done the trick. The last part of the falling tide has been the key to catching more fish.
Flounder have been hit or miss inshore. Most fish have been landed in the waterway on live mullet, but they’ve fallen just short of the legal limit. Quality flounder have moved out to nearshore structure. Anglers dropping live baits and bucktails in 25-40′ of water have been rewarded with good numbers of keeper fish.
Derek, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the nearshore spanish bite has slowed down, but anglers fishing around the Oak Island area are still finding a few. Most spanish have been feeding on glass minnnows, so using small Clarkspoons has been the key to hooking fish.
Shark fishing has slowed down around the nearshore reefs, but anglers tossing out large cut and chunk baits have landed a few. Those dropping live baits around the reefs have hooked in to a few keeper flounder.
Anglers searching for kings have found the best bite around The Jungle area. Most fish have been in the 10-20 lb. range and have hit dead cigar minnows on pirate plugs. Some large citation spanish have also been in the mix.
A few sailfish have been spotted while king fishing, but most of the sails have turned down the dead baits.
In the 30+ mile range, the king bite has been consistent for those pitching baits while at anchor. On the bottom, anglers are landing grouper, beeliners, and black sea bass.
In around 120′ of water, scamp grouper and larger beeliners have been hooked.
The wahoo bite has started to pick up, but it’s still slow.
Cooper Coleman (age 6) and his father Jesse, of Tabor City, NC, with a 19” black drum that was caught on a Carolina-rigged live shrimp.
Shane, of Fin-Fisher Charter Service, reports that the flounder bite on the nearshore reefs has picked up. Anglers dropping 2 oz. bucktails have landed limits of keeper fish.
Redfish have been holding close to deeper water docks along the waterway. Most fish have preferred live mullet or cut pogies on a Carolina rig.
Those targeting black drum have found good numbers of fish holding near bridge, dock, and oyster structure in the backwaters. Fishing fresh shrimp on the bottom has been the best way to land good numbers of keeper fish.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that just off the beach, the spanish are feeding well. Trolling Clarkspoons on #1 planers has been the ticket. Nearshore fishing has produced kings and big cobia, and trolling live baits has been the best way to tempt these fish to bite.
In the 20-40 mile range, larger kings have started to be more active. Trolling naked cigar minnows over live bottom has produced the best numbers of fish.
Out to the 40-50 mile range, anglers have been landing strong numbers of bottomfish. Grouper has been the main target, and most fish have been above average size. Jigging up live pinfish on sabiki rigs has worked best for bait.
Jacob, of J&J Charters, reports that live shrimp has been the ticket to getting quick action with redfish and black drum, but anglers have to weed through trash fish to hook the drum. Most of the reds and blacks have been holding in deeper holes near dock and oyster structure.
Those tossing out live finger mullet has landed quality flounder, redfish, and trout. When fishing larger live baits, anglers are finding it takes longer to get a bite, but the fish are bigger.
Cecil, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that inshore fishing remains steady for speckled trout and redfish. A mix of live minnows and shrimp fished under corks and on Carolina rigs has been the best way to land them. Most fish have been holding near oyster and dock structure. A few flounder have been in the mix as well, but flounder action has been very hit or miss.
Just off the beach, anglers targeting the reefs for flounder have landed good numbers of keeper fish. Dropping bucktails or live minnows on Carolina rigs has done the trick for the flatfish. Trolling Clarkspoons is still producing solid catches of spanish. A few kings have ben landed nearshore, but the kings have been very scattered.
Those fishing from the pier have landed keeper black drum on fresh shrimp near the pilings.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that redfish have been holding around dock structure and flooded grass areas. Casting live shrimp and finger mullet on jig heads has been the best way to target them. Most fish have been between the 18-22” range. A few flounder have also been in the mix while drum fishing, especially in the Tubbs Inlet area.
Anglers looking for black drum have had success with fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs. Most of the drum have been holding around the Sunset Beach Bridge and oyster structure in area creeks.
Speckled trout are feeding in the area near shell banks and ledges in the waterway. Most fish have been in the 16-18” range and have been willing to take a live shrimp under a float rig.
Out at the jetty, anglers casting cut pogies on Carolina rigs have hooked in to a few over-slot redfish. Most fish have been in the 30-36” range.
David, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that fishing from the pier has slowed down with the water temperatures rising. Anglers putting their time in have landed whiting and croaker on fresh shrimp and sand fleas.
